لاحَ الْهِلالُ كَما تَعَوَّجَ مُرْهَفا

لاحَ الْهِلالُ كَما تَعَوَّجَ مُرْهَفا

وَالْكَوْكَبانِ فَأَعْجَبا بَلْ أَطْرَفا

وَالْكَوْكَبانِ فَأَعْجَبا بَلْ أَطْرَفا

The crescent gleamed, slender as it curved;

The crescent moon shone twisted and bent,

And the two stars amazed—nay, delighted—

And the two stars amazed, or rather winked,

مُتَتابِعَيْنِ تَتابُعَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ فِي

مُتَتابِعَيْنِ تَتابُعَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ فِي

رُمْحٍ أُقِيمَ الصَّدْرُ مِنْهُ وَثُقِّفا

رُمْحٍ أُقِيمَ الصَّدْرُ مِنْهُ وَثُقِّفا

One following the other like two joints in

Following each other, the two ankles in

A spear whose forepart was raised and straightened.

A spear, the chest upright from it and ready.

فَكَأَنَّهُ وَقَدِ اسْتَقاما فَوْقَهُ

فَكَأَنَّهُ وَقَدِ اسْتَقاما فَوْقَهُ

كَفٌّ تُخالِفُ أُكرَتَيْنِ تَلَقُّفا

كَفٌّ تُخالِفُ أُكرَتَيْنِ تَلَقُّفا

So it seemed, with the two aligned above it,

So it was as if, when they went straight above,

A hand alternately catching two balls.

A palm contrary to two wrists receiving.