Sol 5.6

  1. A Nubian giraffe—in her form are manifold traits;

    wherever the eye climbs over her, the way grows easy.

  2. Whenever one who speaks of her casts her name upon the ear,

    the eye sees in her what the speaker meant by his words.

  3. She has the thighs of a noble camel and the hooves of a massive old bull,

    the two eyes of a gazelle and the head of a stag.

  4. Her nature is inwardly endowed with pride and dignity;

    whatever walking she grants, in walking she remains sparing.

  5. How many handlers stand around her, guarding her,

    protecting her from the lot of one put to common use.

  6. You see a hind hoof, whenever she moves, come together

    with a forehoof of hers—so stately is her progress.

  7. As though the white and golden markings resembled,

    upon her body, an inlay of ivory and sandalwood.

  8. By her native build she seems forever crouching

    whenever an approaching eye faces her hindquarters.

  9. At times she turns with a kohl-dark eye,

    and a neck as long as a banner, shadowed.

  10. And a mane of fine hair—you would think its growth,

    when the wind shakes it, the tassels of ripened grain.

  11. She breathes proudly through a hollow reed,

    giving forth a south wind through it for every north wind she draws.

  12. She tosses her head against the halter as though

    showing you there in the air the fierce toss of a hawk.

  13. When a horned challenger appears, she meets his charge masterfully,

    with a head whose neck towers above the clouds.

  14. And two horns, each rounded knob of them rising high,

    like twin pomegranates at the door of a fastened tent.

  15. When they are capped with pure gold, she grows prouder still

    than every tender maiden wearing a wreathed crown.

  16. From her very bearing when she struts, you would think her

    a bride borne to her husband, unveiling herself.

  17. And how many around her recite the verse of Imru’ al-Qays:

    “O Fatim, gently—enough of this coy disdain!”

Sol 5.6