قَد أَغتَدي قَبلَ مَذاذِ الخامِسِ

قَد أَغتَدي قَبلَ مَذاذِ الخامِسِ

بِضَرِمٍ يَنغِصُ كَفَّ اللامِسِ

بِضَرِمٍ يَنغِصُ كَفَّ اللامِسِ

Sometimes I set out early, before the fifth one's last dregs,

Before the late afternoon I had feasted

I venture forth before the thirsting sandgrouse take their flight,

With a fiery creature that vexes the palm that touches it,

On a meal that pains the touch of the taster,

With a fiery bow that chafes the palm of him who grips it,

بِجِلدَةٍ تَندى وَحَجمٍ يابِسٍ

بِجِلدَةٍ تَندى وَحَجمٍ يابِسٍ

عَلَيهِ مِن مَنضوحَةِ القَلانِسِ

عَلَيهِ مِن مَنضوحَةِ القَلانِسِ

With moist skin and a dry frame;

On tough meat gone stale and dry crumbs

Sheathed in supple, moist skin, yet hard and dry of core,

Upon it, from among the sprinkled caps,

Sprinkled with juice from the bitter colocynth.

Crowned with broad tips that sit like hoods upon its ends,

قَنفاءُ ذاتُ عَذَبٍ نَوايِسِ

قَنفاءُ ذاتُ عَذَبٍ نَوايِسِ

يَهوعُ فوها كَهُواعِ القالِسِ

يَهوعُ فوها كَهُواعِ القالِسِ

Is a thick-eared one with swaying tassels;

A wench with a slender waist and languorous eyes

A curved arch adorned with leather straps that sway and dance,

Its mouth retches like the retching of one who regurgitates.

Whose kisses burn like red-hot coals.

Its mouth retching the arrow forth like the heaving of the sick.