وأدْهَمَ يَنهَبُ عُرْضَ المدَى

وأدْهَمَ يَنهَبُ عُرْضَ المدَى

ويجري به كلّ عِرْقٍ كريم

ويجري به كلّ عِرْقٍ كريم

And a black steed devours the breadth of the distance,

He storms across the land

and every noble vein carries him onward,

Dragging behind him every valiant vein

بعيني عقابٍ وشِدْقَي غرابٍ

بعيني عقابٍ وشِدْقَي غرابٍ

وأرساغ جأبٍ وساقَيْ ظليم

وأرساغ جأبٍ وساقَيْ ظليم

with an eagle’s eyes and a raven’s mouth,

With the eyes of a hawk and the cheeks of a raven

and a wild ass’s pasterns and a male ostrich’s shins.

With the claws of a predator and the legs of a knave

كأن البروقَ على جِسمِه

كأن البروقَ على جِسمِه

مَدَاوِسُ تصْقُلُ منه أديم

مَدَاوِسُ تصْقُلُ منه أديم

As though the lightning flashes upon his body

As if lightning streaks across his body

were files polishing his hide.

Files that smooth his hide

وتحسبُ غُرّةَ صبحٍ منيرٍ

وتحسبُ غُرّةَ صبحٍ منيرٍ

بَدَتْ منه وَجْهِ ليلٍ بهيم

بَدَتْ منه وَجْهِ ليلٍ بهيم

And you would think his blaze the gleam of radiant dawn,

You'd think the pink of a bright dawn

appearing from him against the face of pitch-black night.

Showed from it the face of a grim night