وَمُفتَنَةِ الأَلوانِ بيضٌ وُجوهُها
وَنُمرٌ تَراقيها وَصُفرٌ جُنوبُها
And variegated in color, their faces white,
their upper breasts dappled, their flanks yellow,
كَأَنَّ دَراريعاً عَلَيها قَصيرَةً
مُرَقَّعَةً أَعطافُها وَجُيوبُها
as though they wore short tunics,
patched at the folds and neck-openings.
تُعَدِّلُ أَلوانَ الأَغاني كَأَنَّما
تُعَدِّلُ أَوزانَ الأَغاني عَريبُها
They set the modes of song in balance, as though
their eloquent one set the meters of song in balance.
تُسامُ اِستِقاءً في العَشاءَ إِذا عَرا
وَعَطَّلَ أَيّامَ المَصيفِ ذُنوبُها
They are driven to draw water at evening, when it comes on,
and through the summer days their tails hang idle.
Sol 5.6