يا عُقبَ لا عُقبَ لي في البَيتِ أَسمَعُهُ
مَن لِلأَرامِلِ وَالأَضيافِ وَالجارِ
O Ukbah, in my house there is no Ukbah to hear
Who cares for widows, guests, and neighbors?
أَم مَن لِبابٍ إِذا ما اِشتَدَّ حاجِبُهُ
أَم مَن لِخَصمٍ بَعيدِ السَأوِ خَطّارِ
Who guards the door when its frown grows stern?
Who confronts a distant, quarrelsome foe?
أَم مَن يَقومُ بِفاروقٍ إِذا اِختَلَفَت
غَياطِلُ الشَكِّ مِن وَردٍ وَإِصدارِ
Who stands for justice when doubts arise
From rumors and accusations that circulate?
أَم لِلقَناةِ إِذا ما عَيَّ قائِلُها
أَم لِلأَعِنَّةِ يا عُقبَ بنَ عَمّارِ
Who speaks for the canal when its patron falters?
Who champion the helpless, O Ukbah ibn Ammar?
يا عُقبَ لا عُقبَ لي في اليَومِ أُسمِعُهُ
إِلّا ثَوِيَّةُ رَمسٍ بَينَ أَحجارِ
O Ukbah, all day in my house there is none I hear
Save the echoes resounding among the stones.
كانَ الخَليلُ الَّذي تَبقى مَوَدَّتُهُ
عِندي وَمَوضِعَ حاجاتي وَأَسراري
Khalil it was whose friendship stayed with me,
Attending to my needs, my secrets, and my cares.
