1. راحَ مَطوِيَّ الحَشا

    غَرَّ حَيّاً قَد فَرِح

    He went off, his belly drawn in,

    deceiving a tribe that had rejoiced,

  2. مُغمَداً في لَيلَةٍ

    لا تَرى فيها صُبُح

    sheathed in a night

    where you see no dawn.

  3. يَسِمُ الأَرضَ لَهُ

    حافِرٌ مِثلَ القَدَح

    The ground is branded for him

    by a hoof like a cup.

  4. تُنفَضُ الخَيلُ بِهِ

    وَإِذا عاصَت سَفَح

    The horses are shaken by him,

    and when they balk, he pours forth.

  5. وَتَراهُ كُلَّما

    عُرِفَت مِنهُ طَفَح

    And you see him: whenever

    something of him becomes known, he overflows.

  6. لَيسَ يَدري مَوعِدي

    أَيَّ دارٍ قَد فَتَح

    He does not know my appointed time,

    which house he has opened.

  7. لَكَ مِنهُ صارِمٌ

    كُلَّما خِفتُ نَصَح

    For you, from him, a keen sword;

    whenever I was afraid, it gave sincere counsel.

  8. وَلَها سَهمٌ إِذا

    قَرَحَ الصَرحَ قَدَح

    And for her, an arrow that, when

    it wounds the palace, strikes sparks.

  9. وَسِنانٌ كُلَّما

    هُزَّ في الرَوعِ ذَبَح

    And a spearhead that, whenever

    brandished amid terror, slaughters.

  10. فَتَراهُ كُلَّما

    هَزَّ نابَيني كَلَح

    So you see him: whenever

    he shakes my two fangs, he bares his teeth,

  11. ضاحِكاً مِنَ الأَسى

    باكِياً مِنَ الفَرَح

    laughing from sorrow,

    weeping from joy.