قامَhe stood علىon اليُسرىthe left leg خطيباًas a preacher بهاupon it
قامَ على اليُسرى خطيباً بها
ينطقُhe speaks عنof جُملةِa collection ألحانِmelodies
ينطقُ عن جُملةِ ألحانِ
He stood on his left leg, preaching there,
Voicing a whole array of melodies.
كأنّماas though يفرقُhe is afraid منof فَزعةٍa sudden fright
كأنّما يفرقُ من فَزعةٍ
فيat أوّلِthe beginning منof نقرهِhis tapping notes الوانيfaltering
في أوّلِ من نقرهِ الواني
As though he were afraid of a sudden fright
At the outset of his faltering notes.
كأنّهas though he فيin فعلهِhis actions عاشقاًa lover
كأنّه في فعلهِ عاشقاً
روّعهُterrified him العشقُlove بهجرانِwith abandonment
روّعهُ العشقُ بهجرانِ
As though, in his actions, he were a lover
Whom love had terrified with abandonment.
كانّماas though الأنقارُthe tapping notes فيin نحرهِhis throat
كانّما الأنقارُ في نحرهِ
ميازبٌwater spouts فيin طستِa basin عقيانِpure gold
ميازبٌ في طستِ عقيانِ
As though the tapping notes in his throat
Were water spouts in a basin of pure gold.