ماwhat بالُthe matter with شُهْبshooting stars الظّلامِthe darkness حاكيةًimitating
ما بالُ شُهْب الظّلامِ حاكيةً
شُهْبَgray جِيادٍsteeds ثَنَتْbent back أعِنَّتَهاtheir reins
شُهْبَ جِيادٍ ثَنَتْ أعِنَّتَها
Why does the cloud-bank’s ashen hue mimic
Why do the shooting stars of darkness imitate
gray-white steeds that have turned their reins?
gray steeds that have bent back their reins?
فهْيَfor they وإنْand though أخْفِيَتْwere hidden فوارِسُهاtheir riders
فهْيَ وإنْ أخْفِيَتْ فوارِسُها
تشْرَعُlevel فيin نقْعِهاtheir dust أسنَّتَهاtheir spearheads
تشْرَعُ في نقْعِها أسنَّتَها
For though its horsemen are hidden,
For though their riders are hidden, they
it levels its spearheads within its dust-cloud.
level their spearheads amid their dust.
