وخرقاءُ قد تاهَتْ على من يرومُها

بمَرْقَبِها العالي وجانِبها الصَّعْبِ

The ruins have wandered astray over one who seeks them,

With their lofty watchtower and steep side.

يَزِرُّ عَليها الجَوّ جَيْبَ غَمامِهِ

ويُلْبِسُها عقداً بأنْجمه الشهبِ

The air pours its clouds' bosom down upon them,

And dresses them with a necklace of its shooting stars.

إِذا ما سَرى بَرْقٌ بَدَتْ من خلاله

كَما لاحَتِ العَذْراءُ من خِلَلِ الحجبِ

When lightning flashes through them,

She appears as a maiden glimpsed through a veil.

فكم ذي جُنودٍ قد أَماتَ بِعَضْبِهِ

وذي سَطَواتٍ قد أَبانَ عَلى عَقْبِ

So many a man of armies has killed with his wrath,

And so many a man of power has shown his might.

سَمَوْتَ لَها بالرأَي يشرق في الدُّجى

ويَقْطَعُ في الجُلَّى ويَصْدَعُ في الهضبِ

You planned for them with enlightened reason shining in the gloom,

Piercing the darkness, cleaving the hills.

فأَبرزتَها مَنْهوكة الجَيْبِ بِالقَنا

وغادَرْتَها مَلْصُوقَةَ الخَدِّ بالتُربِ

Then you brought them out with their breasts drained by the canal,

Leaving them clasped to the cheek by dust.