سأغلِبُ والسماءِ ومَنْ بناها

سأغلِبُ والسماءِ ومَنْ بناها

قَطاةَ مُزاحِمٍ ومَنِ انتحاها

قَطاةَ مُزاحِمٍ ومَنِ انتحاها

I shall surpass, by heaven and the One who built it,

I will prevail, and the sky and He who built it

Muzahim’s sandgrouse and whoever pursues her—

Over the intruding cat and he who stroked it

قَطاة مُزاحمٍ وأبي المُثَنَّى

قَطاة مُزاحمٍ وأبي المُثَنَّى

على حُوزِيَّةٍ صُلْبٍ شَواها

على حُوزِيَّةٍ صُلْبٍ شَواها

The sandgrouse of Muzahim and Abu al-Muthanna—

The intruding cat and Abi Al-Muthanna

Upon a fleet she-camel whose limbs are sturdy.

Over the firm, erect Houziyya

غدتْ كالقَطْرَةِ السُّفْواء تَهْوِي

غدتْ كالقَطْرَةِ السُّفْواء تَهْوِي

أمام مُجَلْجِلٍ زَجِلٍ نَفاها

أمام مُجَلْجِلٍ زَجِلٍ نَفاها

She set off in the morning like a swift drop, hurtling down,

It became like a worthless drop falling

Ahead of a rumbling, resounding cloud that cast it out.

Before the rumbling, vocal thunder that dispelled it

تَكَفَّأ كالجُمانَةِ لا تُبالي

تَكَفَّأ كالجُمانَةِ لا تُبالي

أبالموماةِ أضحْ أَم سِواها

أبالموماةِ أضحْ أَم سِواها

She sways like a pearl, not caring

It crouched like a skink, uncaring

Whether I spend the morning in the wilderness or elsewhere.

Whether it was made distinct or something else

نبتْ منها العَجيزةُ فاحزألَّتْ

نبتْ منها العَجيزةُ فاحزألَّتْ

ونَبَّسَ للتقتُّل مَنْكِباها

ونَبَّسَ للتقتُّل مَنْكِباها

Her rump jutted out and rose high,

From it grew the old woman, so it shook

And her shoulders stirred in a coquettish sway.

And its shoulder blade withered for slaughter

كأنَّ كعوبها أطرافُ نَبْلٍ

كأنَّ كعوبها أطرافُ نَبْلٍ

كساها الرَّازقيَّةَ مَنْ بَراها

كساها الرَّازقيَّةَ مَنْ بَراها

As though her ankles were the tips of arrows,

As if its ankles were arrowheads

Clothed in fine white linen by the one who shaped them.

Dressed by Ar-Raziqqiya, He who created it