بَعَثْتُ وَلِيدَتي سَحَراً

وقلتُ لها: خذي حذركْ

I sent my daughter off at dawn

And said to her, "Be on your guard

وَقولي، في مُعَاتَبَة ٍ،

لِزَيْنَبَ: نَوِّلي عُمَرَك

And say, reproachingly,

To Zainab: “Turn your life around

فَإنْ دَاوَيْتِ ذا سَقَمٍ

فأخزى اللهُ من كفرك

For if you cure this sickness

May God shame those who disbelieve you.”

فَهَزَّت رَأسَها عَجَباً

وَقالَت مَن بِذا أَمَرَك

She shook her head in wonder

And said “Who ordered you this?

أَهَذَا سِحْرُكَ النّسْوَا

نَ؟ قَدْ خَبَرْنَني خَبرَكْ

Is this your women’s magic?

For I know your story already

وَقُلْنَ إذا قَضَى وَطَراً

وأدركَ حاجةً هجرك

And they say, when passion passes

And a need makes one leave you