1. When their caller summons them with his voice
As a lover responds to the voice of his beloved

2. Their young ones spend the night devoted around him
In vigil like virgins around a bereaved corpse

3. They have grown so fat that their pregnancy
Seems to have split their ribs though they're not pregnant

4. Neighbors of the subdued, and whoever is
Forced to be their neighbor cannot look up

5. A people who if a dog disowns its owners
They protect their neighbor from every vicious transgressor

6. And if the living become paralyzed their elderly
Remain in good state, secure, undisturbed

7. But if alarmed they flee to every swift-footed
Stout-ribbed, wide-chested, hump-backed horse

8. And every squint-eyed, snub-nosed, vulgar
Approaching she-camel, hired or burdened

9. They come at dawn with horsemen gloomy-faced
Masked, attacking every head covered