بداappeared البرقthe lightning منfrom نحوthe direction of الحجازthe Hijaz مذكراًreminding
بدا البرق من نحو الحجاز مذكراً
بسلمىof Salma وسعدىand Sa'da والتذكرand remembrance ينصبcauses weariness
بسلمى وسعدى والتذكر ينصب
Lightning appeared from the direction of the Hijaz, awakening memories
Lightning appeared from the direction of the Hijaz, reminding me
of Salma and Su‘da—and remembrance wears me down.
of Salma and Sa'da—and remembrance is wearying.
يلوحgleams علىagainst لونthe hue of الدجىthe darkness of night فكأنهso, as though it were
يلوح على لون الدجى فكأنه
سيوفswords علىover زرقblue الثيابthe garments تقلبare turned about
سيوف على زرق الثياب تقلب
It flashes against the hue of darkness, as though it were
It gleams against the hue of night, as though it were
swords wheeling over robes of blue.
swords being turned about over blue garments.
فللهso, by God! برقٌa flash of lightning عذبtormented القلبthe heart لمعهits flash
فلله برقٌ عذب القلب لمعه
أكلis every محبlover بالبروقby lightning flashes معذبtormented؟
أكل محب بالبروق معذب؟
What lightning! Its gleam tormented the heart—
By God, what lightning—its flash tormented the heart!
Is every lover tormented by lightning?
Is every lover tormented by lightning flashes?
