سلت أسابرة البزاة مخالباً

سلت أسابرة البزاة مخالباً

في يوم فاقعةٍ كحد المنصلِ

في يوم فاقعةٍ كحد المنصلِ

The hunting hawks unsheathed their talons

The sharp claws of the spotted hyenas snatched

On a day of calamity, like the edge of a sword.

On the day of an overwhelming calamity, sharp as a cleaver

وغدت تنادي والحجال بكفها

وغدت تنادي والحجال بكفها

أين النجا من فتك سيف مهلهل

أين النجا من فتك سيف مهلهل

And they began calling, with the partridges in their grasp:

And they began calling, striking their jaws with their paws

“Where is escape from the deadly onslaught of Muhalhil’s sword?”

Where can one escape from the killing blow of a polished sword?

كرم به يوماً محا فيه ضيا

كرم به يوماً محا فيه ضيا

شهب البزاة ظلام ليل الأحجل

شهب البزاة ظلام ليل الأحجل

How noble a day! In it, effaced by the radiance

One day it generously erased the radiance

Of the gray hawks was the darkness of the white-legged one’s night.

Of the spotted hyenas, the darkness of a pitch-black night