كأَنَّas though عمروَAmr بنson of ثَربىTharba لَمdid not يَعِشlive مَلِكاًas a king
كأَنَّ عمروَ بن ثَربى لَم يَعِش مَلِكاً
وَلَمand did not تكنbe حولَهaround him الراياتُthe banners تَختَفِقُflutter
وَلَم تكن حولَه الراياتُ تَختَفِقُ
As though Amr son of Tharba had never lived as a king,
As if Amr son of Tharba did not live a king,
and the banners had never fluttered around him.
Nor banners did flutter around him,
لاقىhe met جَذيمةَJadhima فيin جأواءَa dark-armored host مُشعَلةًٍspread wide
لاقى جَذيمةَ في جأواءَ مُشعَلةًٍ
فيهاin it حراشِفُfoot soldiers بالنيرانِwith flames تَرتَشقُexchange volleys
فيها حراشِفُ بالنيرانِ تَرتَشقُ
He met Jadhima in a dark-armored host spread wide,
He met Jadhimah in blazing desert,
where foot soldiers exchanged volleys of flame.
Where scales with fire did spark.