1. كأن جفنيه سقطا نافرٍ فزعٍ

    إذا أراد سقوطاً ريع أو زيدا

    It is as though his eyelids were the two wingtips of a skittish, frightened bird.

    Whenever it tries to alight, it is startled or terrified.

  2. ظن الدجى قطة الأظفار كاسرةً

    والصبح نسراً فما ينفك مزؤدا

    It thought the darkness a cat with rending claws,

    And dawn an eagle; so it never ceases to be terrified.