ذا شَعرُكَ كَالأَرقَمِ إِمّا لَسَبا

ذا شَعرُكَ كَالأَرقَمِ إِمّا لَسَبا

وَالعِقدُ كَالغُصنِ البانِ إِن مالَ سَبى

وَالعِقدُ كَالغُصنِ البانِ إِن مالَ سَبى

This hair of yours is like a speckled snake if it bites.

Your hair is like silk, whether bound or loose,

And the necklace is like a bān-tree branch: if it sways, it captivates.

And your neck is like a bending bough if it sways.

وَالرِدفُ إِذا عاتَبتُهُ خاطَبَني

وَالرِدفُ إِذا عاتَبتُهُ خاطَبَني

بِالآخِرِ لِلأَحقافِ إِمّا لِسَبا

بِالآخِرِ لِلأَحقافِ إِمّا لِسَبا

And the rump, when I reproached it, addressed me

When I chide my steed he chides me in return

With the last words of al-Aḥqāf, or of Sabaʾ.

With a swishing tail, out of playfulness.