كَأَنَّas though الشَرارَthe sparks عَلىabove نارِهاits fire
كَأَنَّ الشَرارَ عَلى نارِها
وَقَدand indeed راقَdelighted مَنظَرُهاits appearance كُلَّevery عَينِeye
وَقَد راقَ مَنظَرُها كُلَّ عَينِ
The sparks above its fire seem—
And its appearance has delighted every eye—
سُحالَةُfilings of تِبرٍunworked gold إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle عَلاit rises
سُحالَةُ تِبرٍ إِذا ما عَلا
فَإِمّاbut if هَوىit falls فَفُتاتُthen fragments of اللُجَينِsilver
فَإِمّا هَوى فَفُتاتُ اللُجَينِ
Like gold filings when they rise,
But if they fall, like fragments of silver.