كَأَنَّas though مُدامَةًwine مِنfrom أَذرِعاتٍAdhri‘at
كَأَنَّ مُدامَةً مِن أَذرِعاتٍ
وَماءَand water المُزنِthe rainclouds وَالعِنَبِand grapes القَطيفاfreshly picked
وَماءَ المُزنِ وَالعِنَبِ القَطيفا
As though wine from Adhri‘at,
Like water from grapes and apricots
And raincloud water and freshly picked grapes,
Poured on embers almost burnt away,
عَلىupon أَنيابِthe canine teeth of جَمرَةَJamra بَعدَafter وَهنٍa stretch of night
عَلى أَنيابِ جَمرَةَ بَعدَ وَهنٍ
إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle خالَطَmingled with النَسمَthe breath الرَشيفاthe saliva being sipped
إِذا ما خالَطَ النَسمَ الرَشيفا
Were upon Jamra’s canine teeth, late in the night,
When the gentle breeze begins to stir,
When breath mingles with the saliva being sipped.
And dying flames leap up in fiery play.