1. وَمَسجَن يَهوى القِتال مَمنع

    عَن قرنه ذي صَرخة وَدُعاء

    And a captive, longing for combat, kept apart

    From his rival, crying out and calling,

  2. بادي التململ خَلف حائط سجنه

    حُب البُراز مُجيب كُل نِداء

    Visibly restless behind his prison wall,

    For love of single combat, answering every call,

  3. في مَجلس ضَنك يَودُّ لَو أَنَّهُ

    لاقى مُبارِزه بِجنب فَضاء

    In cramped quarters, he wishes that he

    Might meet his challenger beside an open space.

  4. فَقَد السِلاح فَجال أَعزَل

    جَولَةً وَمَضى إِلى الهَيجاء ذا خَيلاء

    He lost his weapons and roamed about unarmed,

    Making a circuit, then went to the fray full of swagger,

  5. في حلة دَكناء قَد رفَعَت لَهُ

    مِن جانبَيهِ بيمنة السَيراء

    In a dusky robe, drawn up for him

    On either side with a Yemeni mantle of striped silk,

  6. مُتشمراً متبختراً متكبرا

    متطوّقاً بِعمامة سَوداء

    With garments tucked up, strutting, haughty,

    With a black turban wound about him.