وَسَرْوٍand cypresses كَزَنْجٍlike black Africans شَمَّرُواtucked up الذَّيْلَthe hem إذْwhen غَداَbegan to
وَسَرْوٍ كَزَنْجٍ شَمَّرُوا الذَّيْلَ إذْ غَداَ
يَهُزُّهُمُsways them خفقُthe beating of البنادرthe frame drums لِلطَّرَبْfor delight
يَهُزُّهُمُ خفقُ البنادر لِلطَّرَبْ
And sarw-trees, like the Zanj, hitched up their hems when
And cypresses, like black Africans who tucked up their hems when
the fluttering of the banners began to sway them into rapture.
the beat of frame drums began to sway them with delight.
إذاَwhen مَشَطَتْcombed أيديhands النسيمthe breeze فُرُوعَهَاtheir branches
إذاَ مَشَطَتْ أيدي النسيم فُرُوعَهَا
تَرَىyou see حُلَلاًrobes خضراgreen تُزَرَّرُare buttoned بِالذَّهَبْwith gold
تَرَى حُلَلاً خضرا تُزَرَّرُ بِالذَّهَبْ
When the hands of the breeze comb their boughs,
When the hands of the breeze comb their branches,
you behold green robes fastened with gold.
you see green robes buttoned with gold.
