سامي التَّلِيلِ كأَنَّ عَقْدَ عِذارِهِ

سامي التَّلِيلِ كأَنَّ عَقْدَ عِذارِهِ

في رَأسِ غُصنِ البانَةِ المَيَّادِ

في رَأسِ غُصنِ البانَةِ المَيَّادِ

High-necked, as though the knot of his cheekstrap

Like the necklace adorning the delicate branch of the willow tree,

Were at the tip of a swaying moringa bough.

At the head of the soft, pliant twig.

يُهْدى بمِثْلِ الفَرْقَدَينِ ونابَ عَنْ

يُهْدى بمِثْلِ الفَرْقَدَينِ ونابَ عَنْ

رَعْيِ السِّماكِ بقَلبِهِ الوَقّادِ

رَعْيِ السِّماكِ بقَلبِهِ الوَقّادِ

He is guided by a pair like the Farqad stars, and has replaced

It is presented like a pair of precious gems, having abandoned

Watching al-Simāk with his blazing heart.

The pasturing of well-fed fish in his fiery heart.

فكَأنَّما أَطَأُ الأباطحَ والرُّبى

فكَأنَّما أَطَأُ الأباطحَ والرُّبى

بعُقابِ شاهِقَةٍ وحَيَّةِ وَادِ

بعُقابِ شاهِقَةٍ وحَيَّةِ وَادِ

So it is as though I tread the gravelly flats and hills

So it seems I walked the dunes and hills

On an eagle of a lofty peak and a serpent of a valley.

With legs long and slender like a serpent’s valley.

وكأَنَّهُ من تحتِ سَوْطِيَ خارجاً

وكأَنَّهُ من تحتِ سَوْطِيَ خارجاً

في الرَّوعِ شُعْلَةُ قادحٍ بِزِنادِ

في الرَّوعِ شُعْلَةُ قادحٍ بِزِنادِ

And, emerging from beneath my whip, he is like

And it seems that because of my whip, fleeing in fright,

A flame amid terror, kindled by one wielding a fire-striker.

A fiery brand sparked by flint and steel.