كَأَنَّ اِندِفاعَ البَرقِ بَينَ رعوده

كَأَنَّ اِندِفاعَ البَرقِ بَينَ رعوده

تطاير نارٍ لاصطكاك جنادِلِ

تطاير نارٍ لاصطكاك جنادِلِ

As though the lightning’s rush amid its thunderclaps

As if the lightning's flash mid crashing thunder

Were fire flying from the clash of boulders,

Were sparks struck out by clashing bright scimitars,

أَو أسدُ الشَّرى في مذهبات سَلاسلٍ

أَو أسدُ الشَّرى في مذهبات سَلاسلٍ

إِذا هِيَ دارَت نُهنِهَت في السَّلاسِلِ

إِذا هِيَ دارَت نُهنِهَت في السَّلاسِلِ

Or lions of al-Sharā in gilded chains,

Or lion of the wastes enchained, yet surely

Whenever they wheel about, they are restrained in the chains.

Roaring his wrath through links of solid bars,

كَأَنَّ بَناتَ الزَّنج فيها مُشِيرَةٌ

كَأَنَّ بَناتَ الزَّنج فيها مُشِيرَةٌ

إِلى الأَرضِ عَن أَكمامِ حُمرِ الغَلائِلِ

إِلى الأَرضِ عَن أَكمامِ حُمرِ الغَلائِلِ

As though the daughters of the Zanj within it were pointing

As if the sable girls were there exulting

Toward the earth from the sleeves of red under-robes.

O'er earth, their loose locks streaming o'er their shoulders.