أُنظُرlook إِلىat النَقشِthe pattern مِنfrom أَطرافِهاher fingertips البَضَّهsoft and plump
أُنظُر إِلى النَقشِ مِن أَطرافِها البَضَّه
مِثلَlike البَنَفسَجِviolets مَنثوراًstrewn عَلىupon فِضَّهsilver
مِثلَ البَنَفسَجِ مَنثوراً عَلى فِضَّه
Look at the tracery on her tender fingertips,
Look at the pattern on her soft, plump fingertips,
like violets scattered over silver.
like violets strewn upon silver.
أَوor خِلتَهاyou imagined her أَخَذَتshe had taken أَطرافَthe tips of خُرَّمَةٍa khurrama plant
أَو خِلتَها أَخَذَت أَطرافَ خُرَّمَةٍ
فَنَضَّدَتهُand she arranged it عَلىupon جِمارَةٍa palm-heart غَضَّهfresh and tender
فَنَضَّدَتهُ عَلى جِمارَةٍ غَضَّه
Or you would think she had gathered the petals of a khurrama blossom
Or you might think she had taken the tips of a khurrama plant,
and arrayed them upon the fresh heart of a palm.
then arranged them upon a fresh, tender palm-heart.
