بَغىsought الذُلّانُthe lowly غايَتَناour summit وَأَنّىbut how
بَغى الذُلّانُ غايَتَنا وَأَنّى
يُقامُis raised المَجدُglory بِالعَمَدِon pillars القِصارِshort
يُقامُ المَجدُ بِالعَمَدِ القِصارِ
The lowly sought our summit—but how
Can glory be raised on short pillars?
وَأَهتَكُهُمand their fiercest at rending لِكُلِّof every خِباءِtent نَقعٍbattle-dust
وَأَهتَكُهُم لِكُلِّ خِباءِ نَقعٍ
إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle مُدَّare spread out أَطنانُmasses الغُبارِof dust
إِذا ما مُدَّ أَطنانُ الغُبارِ
And I am their fiercest at rending every tent of battle-dust,
When the masses of dust are spread out.
كَأَنَّas though الدَمعَthe tears فَوقَupon الحَدِّthe edge مِنهاfrom her
كَأَنَّ الدَمعَ فَوقَ الحَدِّ مِنها
حَبابٌbubbles يَستَديرُform rings عَلىupon عُقارِwine
حَبابٌ يَستَديرُ عَلى عُقارِ
As though her tears upon the edge
Were bubbles forming rings upon wine.