ExpressionImageSelected quality
أَيْطَلَا ظَبْيٍGazelleLean, agile flanks
سَاقَا نَعَامَةٍOstrichLong, effective legs
إِرْخَاءُ سِرْحَانٍWolfExtended stride
تَقْرِيبُ تَتْفُلِYoung foxRapid close steps
The ordering moves from anatomical build to movement. Instead of repeating a general claim of speed, the poet constructs a composite portrait from four observed qualities.
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Imruʾ al-Qays: The Horse’s Form, Similes, and Wild Quarry (Verses 59–64)
ExpressionImageSelected quality
أَيْطَلَا ظَبْيٍGazelleLean, agile flanks
سَاقَا نَعَامَةٍOstrichLong, effective legs
إِرْخَاءُ سِرْحَانٍWolfExtended stride
تَقْرِيبُ تَتْفُلِYoung foxRapid close steps
The ordering moves from anatomical build to movement. Instead of repeating a general claim of speed, the poet constructs a composite portrait from four observed qualities.