كأَنَّ الظبا مِمّا لَزمنَ أَكفَّهم

كأَنَّ الظبا مِمّا لَزمنَ أَكفَّهم

مخالِبُهم أَو هنَّ منهم جَوارِحُ

مخالِبُهم أَو هنَّ منهم جَوارِحُ

As though the sword blades, from clinging to their palms,

As though the antelopes were bound by what clings to their palms,

Were their claws, or limbs of their own.

Their claws, or they were disabled members.

وَتَعتَمِد الأَرواحَ حَتّى كأَنَّها

وَتَعتَمِد الأَرواحَ حَتّى كأَنَّها

جَوانحُ عَمّا لا تضمُّ الجَوانِحُ

جَوانحُ عَمّا لا تضمُّ الجَوانِحُ

And they aim for souls, till they seem

And the spirits lean until it is as though they

To turn aside from what the ribs do not enclose.

Were pinions beyond what pinions can contain.