1. وَمُفتَنَةِ الأَلوانِ بيضٌ وُجوهُها

    وَنُمرٌ تَراقيها وَصُفرٌ جُنوبُها

    And many-hued ones, whose faces are white,

    Their throats mottled and their flanks yellow.

  2. كَأَنَّ دَراريعاً عَلَيها قَصيرَةً

    مُرَقَّعَةً أَعطافُها وَجُيوبُها

    As though they wore short tunics,

    Patched at their sides and neck openings.

  3. تُعَدِّلُ أَلوانَ الأَغاني كَأَنَّما

    تُعَدِّلُ أَوزانَ الأَغاني عَريبُها

    They modulate the varieties of song, as though

    Their ʿArīb were modulating the rhythms of song.

  4. تُسامُ اِستِقاءً في العَشاءَ إِذا عَرا

    وَعَطَّلَ أَيّامَ المَصيفِ ذُنوبُها

    They are made to draw water when evening comes,

    And their water-bucket is left idle through summer’s days.