وأَحْمَرَ مَذْبَحٍ وقَراً وَزوْرٍ

وأَحْمَرَ مَذْبَحٍ وقَراً وَزوْرٍ

هَمُوس زِيارَةِ القِرْنِ الهَمُوسِ

هَمُوس زِيارَةِ القِرْنِ الهَمُوسِ

And red of throat, back, and breast,

The shrine is red with sacrifice and pilgrimage

Stealthy in approaching the stealthy rival;

Of the mournful visit to the mournful shrine,

وأَبْيَضَ ما اطْمأَنَّ مِنَ الذُّنابَى

وأَبْيَضَ ما اطْمأَنَّ مِنَ الذُّنابَى

إلى الحَاذَيْنِ كالقَصَبِ اللّبِيسِ

إلى الحَاذَيْنِ كالقَصَبِ اللّبِيسِ

And white in the hollow from the tail

And white are the minarets in their serenity

To the two haunches, like worn fine linen;

Like the smooth jointed cane,

وأَسْودَ لَهْذَمِ السّيْرَينِ جَوْنٍ

وأَسْودَ لَهْذَمِ السّيْرَينِ جَوْنٍ

وأَزْرقَ مِنْسَرٍ أَقْنَى نَهُوسِ

وأَزْرقَ مِنْسَرٍ أَقْنَى نَهُوسِ

And black, its twin straps blade-sharp, pitch-black;

And black because of the well-trodden pavement

And blue of beak, hooked and fiercely biting;

And blue from the hanging lamps pious with oil,

وأَصْفَرَ قِمَّةٍ وحَجَاجِ عَيْنٍ

وأَصْفَرَ قِمَّةٍ وحَجَاجِ عَيْنٍ

فتحسبهُ تكَحّلَ مِنْ وُرُوسِ

فتحسبهُ تكَحّلَ مِنْ وُرُوسِ

And yellow of crown and the rim of the eye,

And yellow the dome and the eye's sore from weeping,

So you would think it had lined its eyes with yellow wars dye.

As though with antimony it had painted its lids,

إِذا بُعِثَتْ سَمِعتَ لها زُهَاءً

إِذا بُعِثَتْ سَمِعتَ لها زُهَاءً

وجَهْوَرَةً كَجَهورَةِ القُسوسِ

وجَهْوَرَةً كَجَهورَةِ القُسوسِ

When they are roused, you hear their proud clamor

When the rites are renewed one hears its moaning

And booming tones like the booming tones of priests.

And roaring like the roaring of priests,

كأَنَّ على القَرَا دِيباجَ وَشْيٍ

كأَنَّ على القَرَا دِيباجَ وَشْيٍ

تَكَشّفَ عنْ غُلالَةِ خَنْدَرِيسِ

تَكَشّفَ عنْ غُلالَةِ خَنْدَرِيسِ

As though embroidered brocade upon their backs

As though over the shrine were a coat of brocade

Had parted to reveal a sheer tunic of aged wine;

Which imagination had woven with artistry,

كأنَّ جَآجِئاً منها وَهَاماً

كأنَّ جَآجِئاً منها وَهَاماً

أَعارَتْها النُّفُوسَ يَدا عَرُوسِ

أَعارَتْها النُّفُوسَ يَدا عَرُوسِ

As though breasts and heads among them

As though from it were doves and ring-doves

Had been lent souls by a bride’s two hands.

Whose souls virgins with bridal dress had lent them.