أَقَرَّ العَينَ أَن عَصَبَت يَداها

أَقَرَّ العَينَ أَن عَصَبَت يَداها

وَما إِن يُعصَبانِ عَلى خِضابِ

وَما إِن يُعصَبانِ عَلى خِضابِ

It gladdened the eye that her hands were bound,

My eyes confess, her hands are bound

And they are by no means bound for dyeing.

Though not with henna or dye profound

فَأَبقاهُنَّ أَنَّ لَهُنَّ جَدّاً

فَأَبقاهُنَّ أَنَّ لَهُنَّ جَدّاً

وَواقِيَةً كَواقِيَةِ الكِلابِ

وَواقِيَةً كَواقِيَةِ الكِلابِ

So what spared them was that they had good fortune

But as she has a matter grave

And protection like the protection of dogs.

Like muzzles that restrain the knave