ليَبكِ عقالاً كلّ كِسر مؤربٍ

ليَبكِ عقالاً كلّ كِسر مؤربٍ

مذاخره للأكل المتحيِّف

مذاخره للأكل المتحيِّف

Let every meat-laden joint weep for ʿIqāl,

Let the orator lament for every homestead laid waste

its stored portions destined to be nibbled away.

Boasting their feasts of carrion and shreds

فتجعل أيدٍ في حناجرَ أُقنعت

فتجعل أيدٍ في حناجرَ أُقنعت

لعادتها من الخزير المُغرَّف

لعادتها من الخزير المُغرَّف

Then hands are put into throats tilted upward,

So that hands are thrust through the collars of coats

for their customary helping of ladled meat-and-flour gruel.

As is their custom with pork well basted

وكُنتُ إذا ما قربَ الزادُ مُولعاً

وكُنتُ إذا ما قربَ الزادُ مُولعاً

بكل كُميت جِلدة لم يُوسِّف

بكل كُميت جِلدة لم يُوسِّف

And whenever the food was brought near, I was eager

When provisions drew near, I was wont to wax ravenous

for every sturdy reddish-brown bowl whose surface had not flaked,

For every small portion, though stale as scraps

مُداخلةَ الأقرابِ غير ضئيلةٍ

مُداخلةَ الأقرابِ غير ضئيلةٍ

كُميت كأنها مزادة مخلف

كُميت كأنها مزادة مخلف

with closely drawn flanks, not small,

To partake of a kinsman's leavings is no shame

reddish-brown, like a water-carrier’s waterskin.

A portion is as though it were spoils of war