لَقَد جَمَعَ الحَدّادُ بَينَ عِصابَةٍ

تَساءَلُ في الأَسجانِ ماذا ذُنوبُها

The blacksmith brought together a gang

Who wonder in prison what their crimes were

مَقَرَّنَةُ الأَقدامِ في السِجنِ تَشتَكي

ظَنابيبَ قَد أَمسَت مُبيناً عُلوبُها

Shackled feet complaining in jail

With pipes that have clearly revealed their flaws

بِمَنزِلَةٍ أَمّا اللِئيمُ فَآمِنٌ

بِها وَكِرامُ القَومِ بادٍ شُحوبُها

As for the scoundrel, he is safe

While the honor of the people has withered away

إِذا حَرَسِيٌّ قَعقَعَ البابَ أُرعِدَت

فَرائِصُ أَقوامٍ وَطارَت قُلوبُها

When a guard rattles the door they shudder

The escapees of people whose hearts have flown

نَرى البابَ لا نَسطيعُ شَيئاً وَراءَهُ

كَأَنّا قُنِيٌّ أَسلَمَتها كُعوبُها

We see the door, unable to do anything behind it

As if we were chained, surrendered by our heels

أَلا لَيتَني مِن غَيرِ عُكلٍ قَبيلَتي

وَلَم أدرِ ما شُبّانُ عُكلٍ وَشيبُها

Oh, I wish I were from a different tribe than Ukal

And I did not know the young or old of Ukal

قُبَيِّلَةٌ لا يَقرَعُ البابَ وَفدُها

بِخَيرٍ وَلا يَأَتي السَدادَ خَطيبُها

A tribe whose delegation does not knock on the door

With good, nor does its suitor come to the matchmaker

فَإِن تَكُن عُكلٌ سَرَّها ما أَصابَني

فَقَد كُنتُ مَصبوباً عَلى مَن يَريبُها

If Ukal was happy with what befell me

Then I was poured upon whoever doubts it