1. When he came at me with arguments
and doubts about the principles of religion,
١. قَالَ لِي عِنْدَمَا أتَى بِجِدَالٍ
وَشُكُوكٍ عَلَى أُصُولِ الدِّينِ
2. and my tongue switched the 'd' to a 't',
powerless in matters to make plain,
٢. وَلِسَانِي يُبَدِّلُ الدَّالَ تَاءً
عَاجِزاً فِي الأُمُورِ عَنْ تَبيِينِ
3. I sought a way out concordant with my words -
"You have spoken well, O Majesty of the Fig," I said.
٣. اِلْتَمِسْ مَخْرَجاً يُوَافِقُ قَوْلِي
قُلْتُ أَحْسَنْتَ يَا جَلاَل التِّينِ