1. Many a gloomy dark day
Blending light with darkness

2. We went through to hunt down tranquility
And the dawn had already drawn her veil

3. As if it had just risen from sleep
With a supple, curving body

4. Accustomed to war and boldness
It shrinks not from fighting

5. Until the appearance of goblets
And good filled like a flooding sea

6. A flock of ostriches appeared before us
With glowing necks like flags

7. Mouths gaping greedily
Like unrestrained horses that slipped their reins

8. Beasts walking on paired legs
Called birds though they’re like cattle

9. Flying on feet over the sands
As if their necks were the skies

10. Adversaries risen for battle
So when the flock made to flee

11. The archer was silenced by arrows
The shafts unleashed like downpour

12. When a stallion appeared before me
As if armored by the darkness

13. Its wings bound to a lofty neck
As if a brotherly “Ha” joined to a “Lam”

14. I glimpsed it below the towering saddle
With a charger pouncing like a whirlwind

15. Reins slack, saddle stuffed
It nearly bends the cheek-strap

16. With sturdy jowl and flowing mane
And polished brow and blackened forelock

17. When it came opposite me
I lodged my arrow in its fetlock

18. Piercing flesh and bone
It collapsed dead on the sand

19. Fear had driven it to the enclosure
And its fall amazed the companions

20. Until each of the folk began to say
No hand truer than the archer's