كَأَنَّ تَحْتِي صَخِباً جُنادِلا

أَنْعَتُ عَيْراً صَنْدَلاً صُنادِلا

As though beneath me were tumults of warriors,

leading camels with litters and curtains.

وَعَقَّد الأَرْباقَ وَالحَبائِلا

بِجَوْزِ مَهْواةٍ إِلَى خَياعِلا

They tightened the camel litters and ropes

with the nuts of a spindle on top of the howdah.

فَهْيَ تَعاطَى شَدَّهُ المُكايَلا

سَحْقاً مِنَ الجِدِّ وَسَحْجاً باطِلا

They vie in contention, pulling violently—

utterly serious, though with futile effort.