قد أغتدي وعيون الفجر واسنةٌ

والشمس راقدةٌ عن عين باغيها

I have become restless while the eyes of dawn are sleepy,

And the sun is resting from the sight of its seeker.

بالمضرحيات يحتث النزاع بها

كالأسد تذعرها والنار تذكيها

It provokes strife in the arenas as if

It is a lion startled by it, and fire kindles it.

حجنٍ مناسرها عقفٍ أظافرها

كأنها من حديدٍ ركبت فيها

Fortresses whose peaks are difficult, whose claws are firm

As if they were made of iron constructed in them.

كأن أعينها جزعٌ تطيف به

دارات تبرٍ أذيبت في مآقيها

It is as if their eyes are fear roaming in it,

Going around the remains of melted sand in their valleys.

تديرها بحماليقٍ مزيلةٍ

عنها قذاها فتخفيها وتبديها

She turns them with easy ladles

Uncovering their cooking pots, then hiding them.

تكاد تعرف في عيني معلمها

أوامراً من ضمير القلب يوحيها

She can almost recognize in the eyes of their teacher

Commands from the conscience of the heart suggesting them.

أسومها لجةً لاحت مشارعها

وانصاع جدولها وارتج طاميها

I guided them insistently until their paths shone

And their streams bent and their waves roared.

فيها من الطير أنواعٌ مصنفةٌ

سبحان مبدعها فينا ومنشيها

In them are varieties of birds classified,

Glory to their Creator in us and their Maker.

مدبجات بألوانٍ مذهبةٍ

موشيةٍ برقومٍ جل واشيها

Adorned with gilded colors

Lined with expensive skins, beautiful and modest.

كأنهن رياضٌ بينها زهرٌ

يحف بطنانها منها ضواحيها

As if they are gardens among which is a flower

That surrounds their interiors, and around them are their suburbs.

مطرزات بأعلامٍ مسيرةٍ

كالجزع تنشرها حالاً وتطويها

Embroidered with the flags of those who marched

Like tree trunks, she spreads them now and folds them.

ماذا تظن وأشباه السباع لها

خواطفٌ خلسٌ قد حكمت فيها

What do you think, and the beasts similar to lions have for them

Secret passions that have judged them.