1. إِنّي عَداني أَن أَزورَكِ مُحكَمٌ

    مَتّى ما أُحَرِّك فيهِ ساقيَ يَصخَبِ

    Indeed, a firmly wrought fetter has kept me from visiting you;

    whenever I move my leg within it, it clangs.

  2. حَديدٌ وَمَرصوصٌ بِشَيدٍ وَجَندَلٍ

    لَهُ شُرُفاتٌ مَرقَبٌ فَوقَ مَرقَبِ

    Iron, and a prison firmly built with lime mortar and stone;

    it has battlements, lookout above lookout.

  3. يُخَبِّرُني تُرَّاعُهُ بَينَ حَلقَةٍ

    أَزومٍ إِذا عَضَّت وَكَبلٍ مُضَبَّبِ

    Its gatekeepers inform me, between a ring

    that grips hard when it bites, and an iron-banded fetter.