1. نطحَ النَّثر غَفره

    فانظرِ الأمر يا فتى

    Al-Nathr butted its Ghafr.

    So consider the matter, young man.

  2. بطن الطرف في الزبا

    ني فقلنا إلى متى

    Al-Tarf went deep into Al-Zuba—

    —ni; so we said, "Until when?"

  3. والثريّا بزَبرةٍ

    كَللتْ وجه من أتى

    And the Pleiades, with Zubra,

    crowned the face of whoever came.

  4. دبران بصرفة

    قلبه منه قد عَتا

    Aldebaran, with Sarfa—

    its heart has grown defiant because of it.

  5. هقعة قد عوتْ لها

    شَولةٌ جسمُها نتا

    Haq'a—to her there has howled

    Shawla, her body jutting out.

  6. هَنعة في سماكها

    والنعائم صوَّّتا

    Han'a within her Simak,

    and Al-Na'a'im—both raised their voices.

  7. ذرعَ الغفر بلدةً

    إذ رأى الصيفَ مُصلتا

    Al-Ghafr measured out Balda,

    when he saw summer with sword drawn.

  8. نثرت في زبانه

    ذبحها فاستوى الشتا

    She scattered into his claw

    her sacrifice; and so winter settled in.

  9. طرف إكليل بالع

    ما أراه مُعِنتا

    The tip of the crown of Bali'—

    I do not see it causing hardship.

  10. جبهةُ القلب في السعو

    دِ تراه مُسمِتا

    Al-Qalb's brow is in Al-Su'u—

    —d; you see it heading straight.

  11. زمرةٌ عند شَولةٍ

    في خِباءٍ قد أفلتا

    A company beside Shawla,

    in a tent, the two have slipped free.

  12. صرفة في نعائم

    مقدم الفرغ عنتا

    Sarfa among Na'a'im—

    the two harried the forepart of the Spout.

  13. وعوتْ بلدةٌ على

    مؤخّر الفرغِ يا فتى

    And Balda howled at

    the rear of the Spout, young man.

  14. وسماك بذابحٍ

    في رشاءٍ قد أسمتا

    And Simak with Dhabih,

    in Risha', both have set their course.