ولماand when رأيتI saw الدهرTime يقلبturns ظهرهits back
ولما رأيت الدهر يقلب ظهره
علىonto بطنهits belly فعلthe act of المُمعِّكone rolling about فيin الرملthe sand
على بطنه فعل المُمعِّك في الرمل
And when I saw Time turning its back
When I saw time turn its back
Onto its belly, like one rolling in the sand,
And toss in the sand like a lost camel,
كماjust as ظعنتdeparted عناfrom us قضاعةQuda‘a ظعنةa departure
كما ظعنت عنا قضاعة ظعنة
هيit الجدearnestness مأدومseasoned النحيزةthe disposition بالهزلwith jest
هي الجد مأدوم النحيزة بالهزل
Just as Quda‘a departed from us—a departure
As Qudha'a stabbed with rage
That was earnest, its nature seasoned with jest.
The camel's flank, its death a game
Sol 6.1