ماnot (in a question) ترىyou see النارthe fire كيفhow اسقمهاhas sickened it القرthe cold
ما ترى النار كيف اسقمها القر
فأضحتso it became تخبوdies down وحيناand at times تسعرblazes
فأضحت تخبو وحينا تسعر
Do you not see the fire—how the bitter cold has sickened it?
Do you not see the fire—how the cold has sickened it?
So it has begun to die down, then at times blaze up;
So it now dies down, and at times blazes;
وغداand became الجمرthe embers والرمادand the ashes عليهupon it
وغدا الجمر والرماد عليه
فيin قميصينtwo shirts مذهبgilded ومعنبرand ambergris-scented
في قميصين مذهب ومعنبر
and the embers and ash upon it have become
And the embers, with ashes upon them, have come to be
two robes: one gilded, the other perfumed with ambergris.
In two shirts—one gilded, one scented with ambergris.
