وَهيفٍ عَلَيها مُعلَماتُ القَراطِقِ

مَزينَةٍ أَوساطُها بِالمَناطِقِ

With ingrained stars its saddles come alive,

Belts at its waists like banded stripes survive.

إِذا حَضَرَت مِنها لَدَيكَ جَماعَةٌ

تَنَزَّهتَ مِن مَلبوسِها في حَدائِقِ

Whenever a group draws near your abode,

In gardens freed of garb they love to rove.

رِشاقٍ إِذا أَرسَلتَ طَرفَكَ نَحوَها

تَحَيَّرَ مِن أَجيادِها عَلى كُلِّ سابِقِ

Of slender built, send but a glance their way,

And every racer shall in wonder stray.

وَشُهبٍ كَمِثلِ الشَيبِ بيضٍ مُتونِها

تَحُفُّ بِها دَهمٌ كَسودِ المَفارِقِ

With manes like grey amidst pure whiteness shown,

Dark sorrel bodies their fine coats enthrone.

نَتاجٌ كَريمُ الأَصلِ أَسرَعُ خَطوَةً

عَلى الطِرسِ مِن دَمعٍ عَلى خَدٍّ عاشِقِ

Sprung of a noble line, fleet of foot and fast,

Swifter than tears down a lover's cheek they passed.

تَأَدُّبَهُ يُغنيهِ عَن كُلِّ رائِضٍ

وَفِطنَتُهُ تُغنيهِ عَن كُلِّ سائِقِ

Well-mannered, needing no one to give chase,

Wise, without prodding, winning every race.

مِنَ اللاءِ لا تَكبو لِسُرعَةِ جَريِها

إِذا هِيَ خَبَّت في فِجاجِ المَهارِقِ

They tire not, bolting, galloping apace,

When routes curve devious, still the same headlong race.

وَفيها إِذا ما اِستَقبَلَتها خُدودُها

أَشَدُّ اِحمِراراً مِن خُدودِ العَواتِقِ

Meeting them, cheeks redder than any belle,

An aged darling's blooming face as well.

إِذا اِنفَتَحَت عَنها الدَواةُ رَأَيتَها

كَكانونِ نارٍ أَو كَرَوضِ شَقائِقِ

Open their trot, it's like a budburst streaming,

Or sparks erupting, raging and gleaming.