1. ياأُمَّتا أَبصَرَني راكِبُ

    يَسيرُ في مُسحَنفِرٍ لاحِبِ

    O my mother, a rider saw me,

    Traveling along a broad, well-trodden road.

  2. مازِلتُ أَحثو التُربَ في وَجهِهِ

    طَوراً وَأَحمي حَوزَةَ الغائِبِ

    I kept flinging dust into his face

    For a time, while guarding the absent man's domain.

  3. قالَت لَها ضاحِكَةً أُمُّها

    أَنتِ كَمِثلِ الأَمَلِ الخائِبِ

    Her mother said to her, laughing:

    You are just like an unfulfilled hope.

  4. الحُصنُ أَدنى لَو تَأَتّيهِ

    مِن حَثوِكِ التُربَ عَلى الراكِبِ

    Chastity is nearer, if you would seek it,

    Than your flinging dust upon the rider.