هَذا الحِمارُ مِنَ الحَميرِ حِمارُ

هَذا الحِمارُ مِنَ الحَميرِ حِمارُ

ناحَت عَلَيهِ حَليَّةٌ وَعِذارُ

ناحَت عَلَيهِ حَليَّةٌ وَعِذارُ

This donkey is a donkey among donkeys.

Ḥaliyya and ʿIdhār wailed over him.

فَكَأَنَّما الحَرَكاتُ مِنهُ سَواكِنٌ

فَكَأَنَّما الحَرَكاتُ مِنهُ سَواكِنٌ

وَكَأَنَّما إِقبالُهُ إِدبارُ

وَكَأَنَّما إِقبالُهُ إِدبارُ

So it is as though his movements were stillness,

And as though his advance were retreat.