يَأوي إِذا كَشَحَت إِلى أَطبائِها

يَأوي إِذا كَشَحَت إِلى أَطبائِها

سَلِبُ العَسيبِ كَأَنَّهُ ذُعلوقُ

سَلِبُ العَسيبِ كَأَنَّهُ ذُعلوقُ

He shelters at her teats when she turns aside,

When she turns stingily to her doctors,

Long and slender of tail, as though he were a dhu‘luq plant.

The loss of youth is as if chained;

وَكَأَنَّ شَفرَةَ خَطمِهِ وَجَبينِهِ

وَكَأَنَّ شَفرَةَ خَطمِهِ وَجَبينِهِ

لَمّا تَشَرَّفَ صُلَّبٌ مَفلوقُ

لَمّا تَشَرَّفَ صُلَّبٌ مَفلوقُ

And the ridge of his muzzle and forehead seems,

As though the edge of his snout and brow

When he raises his head, like a split block of hard stone.

Were crucified when honored and cloven.