وماءٍ قَديمٍ عَهدُهُ ما يُرى بِهِ

وماءٍ قَديمٍ عَهدُهُ ما يُرى بِهِ

سِوى الطَير قَد باكَرنَ وِردَ المُغَلِّسِ

سِوى الطَير قَد باكَرنَ وِردَ المُغَلِّسِ

And a waterhole, long unvisited, where none is seen

With water ancient, oft unseen but by

save birds that have come early to drink before dawn—

The birds who morning draught earliest supply,

وَرَدتُ بِأَفراسٍ عِتاقٍ وَفِتيَةٍ

وَرَدتُ بِأَفراسٍ عِتاقٍ وَفِتيَةٍ

فَوارِطَ في أَعجازِ لَيلٍ مُعَسعِسِ

فَوارِطَ في أَعجازِ لَيلٍ مُعَسعِسِ

I reached it with noble-bred horses and young men,

Thither I rode mounted on steeds spare and fleet,

going ahead to water in the last hours of a fading night.

While night's last gleamings in backs dim repeat.