وضمّنتُها كعُقاب الظلامِ

جَوْنةَ فُلْك بها تَرْفُلُ

And I made her like the darkness of night

A boat's hull in which luxury sails

فلا حت بدجلةَ مُرْقَدةً

كما ذُعِرَ النِقْنِقُ المجفلُ

So she flowed not like the Tigris at rest

As the starling was startled and fluttered

وكاد يطيّرها بالفضاء

شراعُ مرتْ دَرَّه الأحبلُ

And her sail almost flew her through space

When the ropes were slackened and hung

كأنّ هماهم حَيزُومِها

هديرُ القُروم بها أفكَلُ

As if their care was her pitched ceiling

The clatter of oars which grazed her side

إذا البغيُ أعندها في المسيرِ

تلاقي بها قُلّبُ حُوّلُ

When the wicked taunt her on her course

She meets with him who twists and turns

يقوّمها جورُ سُكّانِها

إذا هي عن قَصْدِها تَعدِلُ

Her people's tyranny keeps her on track

When she strays from the path she rights herself

فأفضَى بها متنُ مغروربٍ

يسامي غَوارِبَهُ أشكَلُ

So a vain ship's hull flowed out

Raising up waves crested and dark

كأنّ تلاطم آذّيه

رباط لها هُدَبُ مُخْمَلُ

As if the pounding of harm upon her

Were ropes and cushions of velvet