1. لتسقي زُغْباً بالتَّنوفةِ لَمْ يكن

    خِلافَ مُوَلاَّها لهنّ حميمُ

    To water downy chicks in the wilderness, who had

    No close companion in their guardian's absence;

  2. تَرائكَ بالأرضِ الفَلاة ومن يَدَعْ

    بمنزلها الأولادَ فهو مُلِيمُ

    Left behind on the barren land—and whoever leaves

    The young in such a dwelling is blameworthy.

  3. إذا استقبلْتها الريحُ طَمَّتْ رفيقةً

    وهنَّ بمهْوىً كالكُراتِ جُثُومُ

    When the wind meets her head-on, she flies gently onward,

    While they crouch in a hollow like balls.

  4. يُراطِنَّ وَقْصاءَ القَفا وَحْشَةَ الشَّوى

    بدعوى القَطا لَحْنٌ لهنّ قديمُ

    They chatter to a short-necked, lean-limbed bird,

    With the sandgrouse's call—a language long their own.

  5. فبِتْنَ قريراتِ العيونِ وقد جرى

    عليهنّ شِرْبٌ فاستَقيْنَ مُنِيمُ

    So they passed the night, their eyes content, for there had flowed

    Over them a sleep-bringing draught, and so they drank:

  6. صَبِيبُ سِقاءٍ نِيطَ قد بَرَكَتْ به

    مُعاوِدةٌ سَقْيَ الفِراخِ رَؤومُ

    A stream from a hanging waterskin, with which she had crouched—

    A tender mother, returning again to water her chicks.