قُلتُ يَوماً لِلرَقاشِي

يِ وَقَد سَبَّ المَوالي

One day I said to Ar-Raqashi

One day I asked al-Raqashi,

While he was insulting his patrons,

As he was reviling the Mawali clients:

ما الَّذي نَحّاكَ عَن أَص

لِكَ مِن عَمٍّ وَخالِ

"What drew you away from your origins

"What has estranged you from your roots,

And from uncle and nephew?

From your father's kin and your mother's line?"

قالَ لي قَد كُنتُ مَولىً

زَمَناً ثُمَّ بَدا لي

He said to me, "For a time I was a client;

He replied: "I was a client for a time,

Then it became clear to me

Until a new thought appeared to me:

أَنا بِالبَصرَةِ مَولىً

عَرَبِيٌّ بِالجِبالِ

That in Basra I was an Arab's client,

"In Basra, I am indeed a client,

In the mountains a free Arab.

But a pure Arab in the mountain lands."

أَنا حَقّاً أَدَّعيهِم

لِسَوادي وَهُزالي

Truly I claim them both

"I lay claim to them in all truth,

For my swarthiness and leanness."

By virtue of my dark skin and gaunt frame."