أرىI see نساءَthe women بنيthe sons of قوميmy people وياand O أسفاmy sorrow!
أرى نساءَ بني قومي ويا أسفا
فيin لسنهنَّtheir tongues سهامٌarrows لسنَthey are not فيin الحدقِthe pupils
في لسنهنَّ سهامٌ لسنَ في الحدقِ
I see the women of my people—alas!
Their tongues hold arrows that are not in their eyes.
كأنماas though منfrom بنيthe sons of تيمٍTaym بعثنَthey were sent لناto us
كأنما من بني تيمٍ بعثنَ لنا
لوif لمnot يكُنَّthey were قباحَugly الخلقِappearance والخُلُقِand character
لو لم يكُنَّ قباحَ الخلقِ والخُلُقِ
As though they had been sent to us from Banu Taym,
Were they not ugly in appearance and character.