قالواthey said اِبتَسَمَتshe smiled علوةُʿAlwa تبديshe displays غَنَجاcoquetry
قالوا اِبتَسَمَت علوةُ تبدي غَنَجا
بَلrather طايَبتِshe bantered with القَومَthe people فَفيfor in الحلقthe throat شَجاa choking obstruction
بَل طايَبتِ القَومَ فَفي الحلق شَجا
They said, “ʿAlwa smiled, displaying coquettish charm.”
They said, “ʿAlwa smiled, displaying coquetry.”
No—she was humoring the company, for a choking grief lodged in her throat.
Rather, she bantered with the people, for a choking lump lies in the throat.
مَنwho أَنكَرَdenied لِلصُبحِto the dawn ثُغوراًmouths ضحكتthat smiled
مَن أَنكَرَ لِلصُبحِ ثُغوراً ضحكت
مَنwho رَدَّrejected عَلىupon نَسيمa breeze روضa garden أَرَجاfragrance
مَن رَدَّ عَلى نَسيم روض أَرَجا
Who could deny the dawn its laughing mouths?
Who has denied the dawn its smiling mouths?
Who could return fragrance to a garden breeze?
Who has rejected the fragrance of a garden breeze?
