رُبَّ نائي المِلاطِ يُحسَبُ جيداً

رُبَّ نائي المِلاطِ يُحسَبُ جيداً

حائِلاً بَينَ غَرضِهِ وَصِدارِه

حائِلاً بَينَ غَرضِهِ وَصِدارِه

Many a broad-flanked camel seems a neck

The distant compatriot is thought well

set between his girth and his breastband.

Standing between his goal and his breast

إِن ثَناهُ الزَمامُ جَرجَرَ كاّلرا

إِن ثَناهُ الزَمامُ جَرجَرَ كاّلرا

عِدِ بِاللَيلِ لَجَّ في قَرقارِه

عِدِ بِاللَيلِ لَجَّ في قَرقارِه

If the rein turns him back, he rumbles like a thunder-

If the bridle pulls him back he drags heavily

cloud at night, relentless in its rumbling.

Run by night and hide in your burrow

وَكَأَنَّ اللُغامَ يَسقُطُ مِن في

وَكَأَنَّ اللُغامَ يَسقُطُ مِن في

هِ هَوافي ما طَمَّ مِن أوبارِه

هِ هَوافي ما طَمَّ مِن أوبارِه

And it is as though the foam falling from his mouth

As if the bit were falling out of the mouth

were drifting wisps of wool shorn from his coat.

Of a tired old camel past its prime