1. ومُخطَفِ الخَصرِ بُرُدُهُ حَبِرٌ

    نَحذَرُه وهو خائفٌ حَذِرُ

    And a slender-waisted one whose mantles are richly patterned:

    we fear him, though he is afraid and wary.

  2. مُجنَّحٌ طارَ في مُجنَّحةٍ

    تصعَدُ طوراً به وتَنحَدِرُ

    Winged, he flew among a winged throng,

    which at times rises with him, then descends.

  3. كأنها والرِّياحُ تَنشُرُها

    غرائبُ الزَّهْرِ حينَ يَنتَثرُ

    It seems, as the winds spread it,

    like rare blossoms when they scatter.

  4. لها حُمَاتٌ كأنَّها شَعَرٌ

    تَظهَرُ مُسوَدَّةً وتَستَترُ

    It has stings resembling hairs,

    which appear black and hide from sight.

  5. قد أُذهِبَتْ في الجبينِ غُرُّتُهُ

    إذ فُضِّضَتْ في جِبَاهها الغُرَرُ

    The blaze on his forehead has been gilded,

    while the blazes on their foreheads have been silvered.

  6. سِلاحُه الدَّهْرَ في مُؤَخَّرِهِ

    يَفتُكُ طَوراً به ويَنتَصرُ

    His weapon is forever at his rear;

    at times he kills with it and prevails.

  7. كأنَّما شَطْرُ ما يُجرِّدُهُ

    من بينِ فَكَّيْهِ حَيَّةٌ ذَكَرُ

    It is as though half of what he unsheathes

    from between his jaws were a male serpent.