ماhow كانَwas أقربَshort وقتاًa time كانَwas بينهماbetween the two of them
ما كانَ أقربَ وقتاً كانَ بينهما
كأنهas though it were الوقتُthe time بينَbetween الوِرْدِthe watering-place والغَرَبِand the large well-bucket
كأنه الوقتُ بينَ الوِرْدِ والغَرَبِ
How exceedingly brief was the time between them!
How brief was the time that lay between them!
As though it were the span between the water and the great drawing-bucket.
As though it were the interval between the watering-place and the well-bucket.
