1. عَلى كُلِّ سَلهَبَةٍ لا حَها

    طِرادُ المَسالِحِ أَو سَلهَبِ

    Upon every tall, long-bodied mare worn lean

    By skirmishing with armed patrols, or a tall stallion,

  2. أَشَثَّ شَخيصٍ كَتَيسِ الفَلا

    ةِ يَستَنُّ أَو جُؤذُرُ الحُلَّبِ

    Shaggy and imposing, like a goat of the wilderness,

    Bounding, or a wild calf among ḥullab plants.

  3. إِذا ما تَصَعلَكَ مِن حَشوِهِ

    فَأَصبَحَ كَالفَرَدِ الأَشعَبِ

    When he sheds bulk from his belly,

    And becomes like a lone, wide-horned bull,

  4. أُمِرَّت حَوامِلُ أَو صالِهِ

    كَما تَستَمِرُّ قُوى القِنَّبِ

    The sinews supporting his limbs are twisted taut,

    As strands of hemp are tightly twisted.

  5. وَأَشرَفَ حارِكُهُ وَالقَنا

    ةُ مِنهُ عَلى طاءَةِ المَركَبِ

    And his withers and neck rise

    Above the hollow of the riding-seat,

  6. عَلى أَنَّ مُجتَمَعَ القُصرَيَيْ

    ن لَيسَ بِغَوطٍ وَلا أَحدَبِ

    Though the place where his two short ribs meet

    Is neither sunken nor humped.

  7. كُمَيتٌ كَأَنَّ عَلى مَتنِهِ

    سَبائِكُ مِن قِطَعِ المذهَبِ

    A bay horse, as though upon his back

    Lay ingots cast from pieces of gold.