ركِبَhe boarded السّفينَةَthe ship واسْتَقَلّand rose aloft بأفْقِهاupon its horizon
ركِبَ السّفينَةَ واسْتَقَلّ بأفْقِها
فكأنّماso it was as though ركِبَmounted الهلالَthe crescent moon الفَرْقَدُFarqad (a star)
فكأنّما ركِبَ الهلالَ الفَرْقَدُ
He boarded the ship and rose upon its horizon.
He boarded the ship and set sail for the horizon
As though Farqad had mounted the crescent moon.
As if riding the slender crescent moon.
وشَكواand they complained إليّto me بمَيْدِهِof his swaying فأجَبْتُهُمْso I answered them
وشَكوا إليّ بمَيْدِهِ فأجَبْتُهُمْ
لاno غَرْوَwonder أنْthat مادَswayed القَضيبُthe branch الأمْلَدُsupple
لا غَرْوَ أنْ مادَ القَضيبُ الأمْلَدُ
And they complained to me of his swaying, so I answered them:
They complained of the ocean's surge and I replied:
No wonder that the supple branch swayed.
No wonder the rigid mast should bend and swoon!