ونهرٍand a river إذاwhen ماan emphatic particle ألبستهclothes it يدthe hand of الصباthe east wind
ونهرٍ إذا ما ألبسته يد الصبا
جواشنcoats of mail جلتwere too exalted عنfor يدthe hand of المتعاطيthe one attempting the craft
جواشن جلت عن يد المتعاطي
And a river—when the east wind's hand clothes it
A river, when the hand of morning dresses it,
in coats of mail beyond a craftsman's hand,
Wears jeweled bracelets too heavy for the bearer’s arm.
ثنتbent نحوهtoward it الأغصانthe branches قاماتِthe forms of لينهاtheir suppleness
ثنت نحوه الأغصان قاماتِ لينها
طواعنَspearing شاطٍa bank منout of طواعِwilling obedience نشاطِvigor
طواعنَ شاطٍ من طواعِ نشاطِ
the branches bend their supple forms toward it,
The willows bend their supple bodies toward it,
spearing a bank out of willing exuberance.
Obedient as the supple bearer to the dancer.