كأنas though نيلوفرwater lily الرياضthe gardens إذاwhen
كأن نيلوفر الرياض إذا
ماemphatic particle reinforcing ‘when’ الليلthe night أدجىgrew dark أوهمor was about to أنto يدجيgrow dark
ما الليل أدجى أوهم أن يدجي
As though the gardens’ water lily, when
It is as though the gardens’ water lily, when
night grows dark, makes one imagine it too will darken,
night grows dark or is about to grow dark,
روضةa garden بضةtender and soft منعمةpampered
روضة بضة منعمة
تضمembraces طفلاًa child لهاof hers منfrom among الزنجthe Zanj people
تضم طفلاً لها من الزنج
were a fresh, tender, luxuriant garden
were a tender, pampered garden
embracing a child of her own, one of the Zanj.
cradling a child of hers from among the Zanj.
