كَأَنَّ الظُعنَ حينَ طَفَونَ ظُهراً

كَأَنَّ الظُعنَ حينَ طَفَونَ ظُهراً

سَفينُ البَحرِ يَمَّمنَ القَراحا

سَفينُ البَحرِ يَمَّمنَ القَراحا

As though the women in their howdahs, when they rose into view at noon,

As though when the lances appeared dorsal

Were ships upon the sea, heading for open water.

The ship of the sea inclined towards the hencoop

قِفا فَتَبَيَّنا أَعُرَيتَناتٍ

قِفا فَتَبَيَّنا أَعُرَيتَناتٍ

يُوَخّي الحَيُّ أَم أَمّوا لُباحا

يُوَخّي الحَيُّ أَم أَمّوا لُباحا

Stop, you two, and ascertain: is it ʿUraytanāt

Stop so we can see are you of 'Uraynāt

That the tribe is making for, or have they headed for Lubāḥ?

Does the living frighten or do they bellow with madness?

كَأَنَّ عَلى الحُدوجِ نِعاجَ رَملٍ

كَأَنَّ عَلى الحُدوجِ نِعاجَ رَملٍ

زَهاها الذُعرُ أَو سَمِعَت صِياحا

زَهاها الذُعرُ أَو سَمِعَت صِياحا

As though upon the howdahs were antelope does of the sands,

As though on the sand dunes, ewes

Startled by terror, or having heard a cry.

Their bleating aroused by alarm or hearing a scream