وَقُلَّةِ طَودٍ مُشمَخِرٍّ شعافُهُ

وَقُلَّةِ طَودٍ مُشمَخِرٍّ شعافُهُ

لمُلتَمسٍ قَصدَ السَبيل مُزيلِ

لمُلتَمسٍ قَصدَ السَبيل مُزيلِ

And a peak of a mountain whose crests tower high,

With scarcely a tuft of down ruffling, stirring its feathers,

leading astray whoever seeks the straight path.

A fledgling, leaving the nest, heads for life's path.

بهِ وَكرُ فَتخاءِ الجَناحَينِ نِقوَةٍ

بهِ وَكرُ فَتخاءِ الجَناحَينِ نِقوَةٍ

شَديدَةِ أَرساغِ الأكُفِّ قتولِ

شَديدَةِ أَرساغِ الأكُفِّ قتولِ

On it lies the nest of a choice, supple-winged eagle,

With the strength of clasping talons and flapping wings

strong in the joints of its feet, a fierce killer.

It bewilders the eyes of one gazing amazed.

تُقَلِّبُ عَينَي مُستَريبٍ أَكنّا

تُقَلِّبُ عَينَي مُستَريبٍ أَكنّا

بقَلتي أشَمَّ المارِنَينِ أَسيلِ

بقَلتي أشَمَّ المارِنَينِ أَسيلِ

It turns a wary creature’s two eyes, both sheltered

I scent the sweet basil on its small beak

in the twin sockets of a slender, high-beaked head.

It has a neck like a weasel's, hiding its impudence

لَهُ جُؤجؤٌ كالفِهرِ يكتنُّ زَورَه

لَهُ جُؤجؤٌ كالفِهرِ يكتنُّ زَورَه

بمُحتَنكٍ صَدق الظُهارِ جَديلِ

بمُحتَنكٍ صَدق الظُهارِ جَديلِ

It has a breastbone like a stone pestle, shielding its chest

In a cunning pretense of virtue and honor.

with a close-bound covering, firm outside and tightly woven;

With legs like supports, were their cords cut

وَساقا ظليمٍ لَو ظنابيبُهُ عَلَت

وَساقا ظليمٍ لَو ظنابيبُهُ عَلَت

رحيبُ أكُفٍّ غَير ذاتِ حجولِ

رحيبُ أكُفٍّ غَير ذاتِ حجولِ

and two legs like an ostrich’s, were its shins longer;

They'd be wider spread than destitute hands.

broad-footed, with no anklets.

Its claws are tent pegs, as though they belong

أَظافيرُها حُجنُ الأشافي كأنَّها

أَظافيرُها حُجنُ الأشافي كأنَّها

شُعوبُ صياصي في قُرونِ وُعولِ

شُعوبُ صياصي في قُرونِ وُعولِ

Its claws are hooked awls, as though they were

To the tribes of Sasaa in the era of camel raids.

branching spurs among the horns of ibex.

When the beast turned aside, the abandoned nest

فَلمّا تراءى الوَحشُ مُنحَرِفاً دَعَت

فَلمّا تراءى الوَحشُ مُنحَرِفاً دَعَت

لإعمارِها آجالُها برَحيلِ

لإعمارِها آجالُها برَحيلِ

Then, when the wild beasts appeared, veering aside, a summons sounded

Summoned its chicks' lifespan to depart.

from their appointed ends, bidding their lives depart.