فكر بأسحم مثل السنان

فكر بأسحم مثل السنان

سوى ما أصاب به مقتلُ

سوى ما أصاب به مقتلُ

Then he wheeled and charged with a jet-black horn like a spearpoint,

Then it charged back with a jet-black point like a spearhead,

aiming it at the mortal spot of whatever he struck;

straight—whatever it struck with it was a mortal spot.

كأن مُخَّ ريقتِه في الغُطاط

كأن مُخَّ ريقتِه في الغُطاط

به سالخ الجلد مستبدلُ

به سالخ الجلد مستبدلُ

as though its brain were its spittle in deepest sleep,

As though the marrow of its saliva among the sandgrouse

a skin-shedding serpent having replaced its own with it.

had been replaced by a creature that sheds its skin.