ما كلَّفَ اللَّهُ لكَ الخَيلا

أَن تَحملَ البَحرَ ولا اللَّيلا

God did not task you, O horse, with carrying the sea or the night,

Nor did we see, before you, a horse on which trailed a tail.

وَلا رَأَينا فَرَساً قَبلَهُ

أرخَت عَليهِ مُزنةٌ ذَيلا

You took the place of the wind in carrying burdens -

Expending your strength and wits.

قامَ مَقامَ الرِّيحِ في حَملِها

فاستفرَغَ القوّةَ والحيلا

Your known quality in color resembles the Nile,

And it fancied to resemble it in flooding.

أشبهَ مَعروفَكَ في لَونِه

وَهمَّ أَن يُشبِهَهُ نَيلا

The land was thirsty, so in its eagerness,

It cast upon it rain and torrent.

واستَسقَت الأَرضُ فَمِن حِرصِه

ألقَى عَلَيها الغَيثَ والسَّيلا