زفَّتْwas led forth as a bride فَقَالَand said الَّذِيthe one who يَرَاهَاsees her
زفَّتْ فَقَالَ الَّذِي يَرَاهَا
أَبِنْتُis she a daughter of حِسٍّthe senses أَمْor بِنتُa daughter of فِكْرِthought
أَبِنْتُ حِسٍّ أَمْ بِنتُ فِكْرِ
She was led forth as a bride; then he who beheld her said:
She was led forth as a bride, and her beholder said:
“Are you a daughter of feeling, or a daughter of thought?
“Is she a daughter of the senses, or a daughter of thought?
وَأَيِّand what بِكْرٍmaiden تُزَفُّis led forth as a bride أَحْرىmore fitting
وَأَيِّ بِكْرٍ تُزَفُّ أَحْرى
بِشَاعِرٍfor a poet مِنْthan عَرُوسِa bride of شِعْرِpoetry
بِشَاعِرٍ مِنْ عَرُوسِ شِعْرِ
And what maiden, when led forth as a bride, is more worthy
And what maiden being wed is more fitting
of a poet than the Bride of Poetry?”
for a poet than a bride of poetry?”