أمونٍ من العظعاظ عند مروقها
وإن عارضتها الريحُ نكباءَ زعزعا
She glides with grace, this bird, when taking flight,
Though winds may gust and try to shake her might.
يحاذرها العفريت عند انصلاتها
فيعجله الإشفاق أن يتسمَّعا
The phantom flees her war cry's deaf'ning din,
Compassion makes him wish the noise would end.
تقول إذا راع الرميَّ حفيفُها
رويدك لا تجزع من الموت مجزعا
When hearing arrows whizzing past her side,
She calmly cries "Fear not, hold your head with pride!"
فإن أخطأته استوهلتهُ لأختها
فَتَلحقه الأخرى مروعاً مُفزَّعا
If one arrow misses, to her sister she cedes,
Who follows it up till her fierce attack succeeds.
وإن ثَقفته أنفذته وقدّرت
له ما يوازيه من الأرض مصرعا
Once found, she strikes with full and fatal force
And grants him death upon his final course.
فيقضي المُذَكِّي في الصريع قضاءَهُ
وهاتيك يأبى غربُها أن تُوَرَّعا
So the speared one meets his unkind end,
While she in the west will never condescend.
أتت ما أتت من كيدها ثم صمَّمت
تدُرُّ دريراً يخطفُ الطيرَ ميلعا
With tricks and cunning she plots his demise,
Then sings with pride as birds fall from the skies.
كأن بنات الماء في صرح متنه
إذا ما علا رَوقُ الضحى فترفَّعا
Like mermaids in a palace made of spray
When dawn's first light reveals the newborn day.
زرابيُّ كسرى بثَّها في صِحَانه
ليُحضِرَ وفداً أو ليجمع مجمعا
Khosrow let them loose to fill his lands
As envoys come and councils he commands.
تريك ربيعاً في خريف وروضةٍ
على لُجَّة بدعا من الأمر مبدعا
A springtime garden born in autumn's midst
By God's creation from the unseen midst.
تخايل فوق الماء زهواً كما زهت
عوائدُ عيد ما ائتلين تصنُّعا
Dancing on water, prancing free with pride
Like revelers upon a feast day's tide.
تلبَّسُ أصنافاً من البزِّ خلقةً
حريراً وديباجاً وريطاً مُقَطَّعا
Draped in coats of many splendid hues
Silk and brocade and fabric's woven views.
فبين خُيابوذٍ زهته شياتُهُ
فزينه ريش تراه موزَّعا
A peacock's colors fail his feathers bright
Arrayed in order gorgeous to the sight.
يَمدُّ إليه حسنُه وجمالُه
خلال بنات الماء عيناً وإصبعا
His elegance and beauty stretch forth far
Through the mermaids, a hand and eye ajar.
وأخضر كالطاووس يُحسَبُ رأسُهُ
بخضراء من حُرِّ الحرير مقنَّعا
His verdant head considered a marvel crowned
In silk of green that's perfectly wound.
يتيه بمنقارٍ عليه حبائلٌ
تخيّلنَ في ضاحيه جَزعاً مجزَّعا
With beaked mouth that terrifies and awes
You'd think his cheeks were frightened, full of flaws.
يلوح على إسطامه وشيُ صفرةٍ
ترقِّشُ منها متنَهُ فتلمَّعا
With yellow plumes lined up upon his chest
That make his torso shine its very best.
كملعقة الصيني أخدمها يداً
صناعاً وإن كانت يد الله أصنعا
Like craftsmen's work though made by God's own hand,
His beauty was designed with grace so grand.
وعينين حمراوين يطرف عنهما
كأن حجاجيه بفَصَّينِ رُصِّعا
Eyes of ruby which he bats and flutters
As though with sparkling gems they both were studded.
ومن أعقف أحذاه منقارُهُ اسمَهُ
أضدَّ بديعُ الخلق فيه فأبدعا
From his thick neck, his beak was namelessly made,
God crafted him with skill in every shade.
مَزِينٌ بسربالٍ من الريش ناصع
له زبرج يحكي الثغام المترَّعا
With a coat of feathers smooth and brightly lit
Resembling a small cloak that's finely knit.
مشينٌ بجيدٍ ذي سواد وزُعرةٍ
ورأس شبيه الجيد أسود أقرعا
Strutting with neck so black and feathers brisk
Head like the neck, so black and bare it is.
مطرَّفُ أطرافِ الجناحِ كأنَّه
بنانُ عروسٍ بالخضاب تقَمَّعا
Wingtips are hennaed like a bride's fine dress
As if in bridal adornment she was blessed.
