The pronoun references change across this extended comparison. In verse 25, lahu refers to the male ostrich toward which the chicks gather. In verse 26, yatbaʿna has those chicks as its subject, and raʾsihi is the ostrich’s head.
At verse 28, sharibat returns the narrative focus to the she-camel. Treating every pronoun as referring to the same creature would confuse the original animal with the animal used as its comparator.
Opening interactive controls...
ʿAntarah ibn Shaddād: Travel, Camel Gait and Ostrich Imagery (verses 20–30)
The pronoun references change across this extended comparison. In verse 25, lahu refers to the male ostrich toward which the chicks gather. In verse 26, yatbaʿna has those chicks as its subject, and raʾsihi is the ostrich’s head.
At verse 28, sharibat returns the narrative focus to the she-camel. Treating every pronoun as referring to the same creature would confuse the original animal with the animal used as its comparator.