أَبَني زَبيبَةَ ما لِمُهرِكُمُ

مُتَخَدِّداً وَبُطونُكُم عُجرُ

My sons of Zabeba, why are your camels lean

while your bellies bulge?

أَلَكُم بِآلاءِ الوَشيجِ إِذا

مَرَّ الشِياهُ بِوَقعِهِ خُبرُ

Do you only care for your milch-camels when the unmilked udder distends?

For still there bubbles in your pots a stew

إِذ لا تَزالُ لَكُم مُغَرغَرَةٌ

تَغلي وَأَعلى لَونِها صَهرُ

whose top is decked with yellow globules of fat.

When they set out at morn with camels sated,

لَمّا غَدَوا وَغَدَت سَطيحَتُهُم

مَلأى وَبَطنُ جَوادِهِم صِفرُ

their bellies full and their mount’s bellies empty.