وقائمةٍand an upright one فِىin يَدَيthe two hands of قائمٍone standing
وقائمةٍ فِى يَدَي قائمٍ
تُحرِّكُit stirs منsome of شَعرِهاits hair الفاحِمِjet-black
تُحرِّكُ من شَعرِها الفاحِمِ
And an upright one in the two hands of one standing,
A palm with a palm
stirs some of its jet-black hair.
Stirring from her flaming hair
يُميِّلُهاtilts it نَفسُbreath المُستقلُthe one holding aloft
يُميِّلُها نَفسُ المُستقلُ
لهاfor it عنaway from قضيبa rod لهاbelonging to it ناعمِsmooth
لها عن قضيب لها ناعمِ
The breath of the one holding it aloft tilts it
Sways to his independent will
away from its smooth rod.
Against his soft and supple rod
وتحسبُهاand you think it كجناحlike the wing of غُرابٍa crow
وتحسبُها كجناح غُرابٍ
علىabove رأسهِhis head طائرٍflying حائمِcircling
على رأسهِ طائرٍ حائمِ
And you think it like the wing of a crow,
You'd think it was a raven's wing
flying and circling above his head.
Above the head of a prowling bird