كالهالكيّlike a smith أمالَbent الرأسَthe head مجتنحاًleaning to one side
كالهالكيّ أمالَ الرأسَ مجتنحاً
يجلوpolishes away عنfrom البيضthe helmets فيon أكتافهاtheir sides النُّقَبُrust spots
يجلو عن البيض في أكتافها النُّقَبُ
Like a smith, he bent his head, leaning to one side,
Like one about to die, he raises his head aloft
Polishing rust spots from the sides of the helmets.
Uncovering from his shoulders white patches left by the strokes of fate.