وَعازِبِ قَد عَلا التَهويلُ جَنبَتَهُ

لا تَنفَعُ التَعلُ في رَقراقِهِ الحافي

Many a far-off watering place had dread looming above its bank,

where foxes are of no avail amid its bare, shimmering shallows.

صَبَّحتُهُ صابِحاً كَالسيدِ مُعتَدِلاً

كَأَنَّ جُؤجُؤَهُ مَداكُ أَصدافِ

I came upon it at dawn with my companion, poised like a wolf,

as though his breast were a grinding-stone for shells.

با كَرتُهُ قَبلَ أَن تَلفى عَصافِرُهُ

مُستَخفِياً صاحِبي وَغَيرُهُ الخافي

I came to it early, before its sparrows could be seen,

with my companion keeping hidden, and whatever else lay hidden.

لا يَنفَعُ الوَحشَ مِنهُ أَن تَحَذَّرَهُ

كَأَنَّهُ مُعلَقٌ فيها بِخُطّافِ

The wild game gains nothing by being wary of him—

as though it hung there, caught upon a hook.

إِذا أُواضِعُ مِنهُ ظَلَّ مُنتَحِياً

مَرَّ الأَتِيِّ عَلى بَردِيَّةِ الطافي

Whenever I urge him to full speed, he keeps bearing onward,

like the rush of a torrent over floating papyrus.