إِنّي عَداني أَن أَزورَكِ مُحكَمٌ

مَتّى ما أُحَرِّك فيهِ ساقيَ يَصخَبِ

I am forbidden to visit you whenever

Indeed, a firm restraint has barred me from visiting you; whenever I move my leg within it, it clamors.

I move my legs in it, they rattle

Of iron, and compacted with mortar and stone, possessing battlements, watchtower upon watchtower.

حَديدٌ وَمَرصوصٌ بِشَيدٍ وَجَندَلٍ

لَهُ شُرُفاتٌ مَرقَبٌ فَوقَ مَرقَبِ

Iron and braced with poles and chains

Its guards speak to me while I am between a ring—biting when it grips—and a plated shackle.

It has battlements watched over battlements

يُخَبِّرُني تُرَّاعُهُ بَينَ حَلقَةٍ

أَزومٍ إِذا عَضَّت وَكَبلٍ مُضَبَّبِ

Its clanking informs me between a ring

I am bound if it bites and a shackled rope