وأنعظ أحياناً فينقد جلده

وأعذله جهدي فلا ينفع العذل

I sometimes admonish him, then he sheds his skin,

And I excuse him with my efforts, but excuses are futile.

وأزداد نعظاً حين أبصر جارتي

فأوثقه كما يثوب له عقل

I admonish more when I see my neighbor,

So I restrain him as his mind clothes him.

وربتما لم أدر ما حيلتي له

إذا هو آذاني وغر به الجهل

Sometimes I do not know what trick to use on him,

When he harms me and ignorance makes him bold.

فآويته في بطن جاري وجارتي

مكابرة قدما وإن رغم البعل

So I take shelter in the belly of my neighbor,

Stubbornly going ahead though the husband objects.