1. أَهلَ العُلومِ أُحاجيكُم بِوارِدَةٍ

    لا تَرتَوي ذات إِبطاءٍ عَلى عَجَلَه

    O people of learning, I pose you a riddle about a water-seeker:

    She never drinks her fill, slow-moving upon a wheel.

  2. إِذا اِستَوى بَينَ رِجلَيها اِمرُؤٌ نَطَقَت

    بِمُزعِجاتٍ مِنَ الأَصواتِ مُتَّصِلَه

    When a man stands upright between her two legs, she speaks

    With jarring, unceasing sounds.

  3. تَمشي وَقائِدُها مِن خَلفِها أَبَداً

    تَميدُ في المَشيِ كَالسَكرانَةِ الثَمِلَه

    She walks, and her leader is always behind her.

    She sways as she walks, like a woman utterly drunk.

  4. صَعراءُ إِن هِيَ قامَت فَهيَ مائِلَةٌ

    وَإِن مَشَت فَهيَ كَالميزانِ مُعتَدِلَه

    Crooked-necked, if she stands, she leans;

    And if she walks, she is level like a balance.

  5. مَحمولَةٌ وَهيَ لِلأَثقالِ حامِلَةٌ

    مُقيمَةٌ لا تَزالُ الدَهرَ مُرتَحِلَه

    She is carried, while she herself carries heavy loads;

    She stays in place, yet is forever traveling.