قَد أَغتَدي وَالطَيرُ في مَثواتِها
لَم تُعرِبِ الأَفواهُ عَن لُغاتِها
I venture forth at dawn while birds still rest in their nests,
Before the beaks have voiced their morning tongues,
بِأَكلُبٍ تَمرَحُ في قِداتِها
تَعُدُّ عينَ الوَحشِ مِن أَقواتِها
With hounds that frolic, straining at their leather straps,
That count the eyes of wild beasts as their daily food.
قَد لَوَّحَ التَقديحُ وارِياتِها
وَأَشفَقَ القانِصُ مِن خِقاتِها
Strict training has refined their fiery forms,
The huntsman dreads the sounds of their ferocity,
مِن شِدَّةِ التَلويحِ وَاِفتِياتِها
وَقُلتُ قَد أَحكَمتَها فَهاتِها
From discipline intense and bold disdain,
I said, "You have mastered them, so bring them forth,
وَاِرفَع لَنا نِسبَةَ أُمَّهاتِها
فَجاءَ يُزجيها عَلى شِياتِها
And cite for us the noble lineage of their dams."
He brought them out, displaying distinct marks,
شُمَّ العَراقيبِ مُؤَنَّفاتِها
مَفروشَةَ الأَيدي شَرَنبَثاتِها
High-hocked, with muzzles sharp and refined breed,
With spreading paws and talons lion-strong,
سوداً وَصُفراً وَخَلَنجِياتُها
مُشرِفَةَ الأَكتافِ موفَداتِها
In coats of jet black, fawn, and brindled wood,
With jutting shoulders, towering and high,
غُرُّ الوُجوهِ وَمُحَجَّلاتِها
كَأَنَّ أَقماراً عَلى لَبّاتِها
With white-blazed faces and white-stockinged feet,
As if bright moons were hung upon their chests.
تَرى عَلى أَفخاذِها سِماتِها
مُنَدَّياتٍ وَمَحَمِّيّاتِها
You see the branded signs upon their thighs,
Well-tended, pampered, shielded from the heat,
مُسَمَّياتٍ وَمُلَقَّباتِها
قودَ الخَراطيمِ مُخَرطَماتِها
Endowed with noble names and titles proud,
With elongated snouts and noses fine,
ذُلُّ المَآخيرِ عَمَلَّساتُها
تَسمَعُ في الآثارِ مِن وَحاتِها
With tapered rumps, sleek as the gliding wolf.
You hear upon the trail their panting drive,
مِن نَهَمِ الحِرصِ وَمِن خَواتِها
لِتَفثَأَ الأَرنَبَ عَن حَياتِها
From ravenous desire and hushed approach,
To snatch the rabbit from its span of life—
إِنَّ حَياةَ الكَلبِ في وَفاتِها
حَتّى تَرى القِدرَ عَلى ميقاتِها
For in the quarry's death the dog finds breath.
Until you see the cauldron set at its appointed time,
كَثيرَةَ الضيفانِ مِن عُفاتِها
تَقذِفُ جالاها بِجَوزِ شاتِها
Surrounded by the guests who seek its share,
Its sides o'erflow with chunks of fatty sheep,
تَرمي بِغَيرِ صائِبٍ صَلاتَها
مِنَ اِلتِظاءِ النارِ في لَهاتِها
It spits its broth like arrows missing marks,
From fire blazing fierce beneath its throat.
