أَلا حَنَتِ المِرقالُ واأَتبَّ رَبُّها

تَذَكّر أَوطانَاً وَأَذكُرُ مَعشَري

Alas the she-camel has knelt, missing her home,

Remembering her native land while I recall my companions.

وَلَو عَرَفت صَرف البُيوعِ لَسَرَّها

بِمَكَّةَ أَن تَبتاعَ حَمضاً بِإِذخِرِ

If she knew the ways of trade, it would please her

To buy some sour milk in Mecca with Izkhir.

أَسَرَّكِ لَو أَنّا بِجَنبَي عُنَيزَةٍ

وَحمضٍ وَضَموانِ الخَبابِ وَصَعتَرِ

It would delight you if we were beside Unaiza,

With sour milk, dhawam, muddy water and sa'tar.

إِذا شاءَ راعيها اِستَقى مِن وَقيعَةٍ

كَعَينِ الغُرابِ صَفوُها لَم يُكَدِّرِ

Whenever her herder wishes, he milks her udder,

As clear as a raven's eye, its purity undisturbed.

وَإِنِّي لَأَرجو مِلحَها في بُطونِكُم

وَما بَسَطَت مِن جِلدِ أَشعَثَ أَغبَرِ

And I hope her salt is in your bellies,

Not stretched on the hide of a disheveled dusty one.