كَأَنَّ تَحْتِي صَخِباً جُنادِلا

كَأَنَّ تَحْتِي صَخِباً جُنادِلا

أَنْعَتُ عَيْراً صَنْدَلاً صُنادِلا

أَنْعَتُ عَيْراً صَنْدَلاً صُنادِلا

As though beneath me were a clamorous, massive beast.

As though beneath me were tumults of warriors,

I describe a burly, mighty wild ass.

leading camels with litters and curtains.

وَعَقَّد الأَرْباقَ وَالحَبائِلا

وَعَقَّد الأَرْباقَ وَالحَبائِلا

بِجَوْزِ مَهْواةٍ إِلَى خَياعِلا

بِجَوْزِ مَهْواةٍ إِلَى خَياعِلا

And he knotted the tether-loops and snares,

They tightened the camel litters and ropes

In the midst of a deep hollow, to sleeveless tunics.

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

فَهْيَ تَعاطَى شَدَّهُ المُكايَلا

فَهْيَ تَعاطَى شَدَّهُ المُكايَلا

سَحْقاً مِنَ الجِدِّ وَسَحْجاً باطِلا

سَحْقاً مِنَ الجِدِّ وَسَحْجاً باطِلا

So she strives to match his gallop stride for stride,

They vie in contention, pulling violently—

Running hard from earnest effort, and scuffing in vain.

utterly serious, though with futile effort.