1. I saw a person
Who seemed impolite
١. إِنَّني أَبصَرتُ شَخصاً
قَد بَدا مِنهُ صُدودُ
2. Sitting on a prayer mat
With slaves around him
٢. جالِساً فَوقَ مُصَلّىً
وَحَوالَيهِ عَبيدُ
3. He glanced at me
As if to hunt me down
٣. فَرَمى بِالطَرفِ نَحوي
وَهوَ بِالطَرفِ يَصيدُ
4. That was in Hafiz's office
Indeed, Hafiz is fortunate
٤. ذاكَ في مَكتَبِ حَفصٍ
إِنَّ حَفصاً لَسَعيدُ
5. Hafiz said, whip him
He's stupid in my class
٥. قالَ حَفصٌ إِجلِدوهُ
إِنَّهُ عِندي بَليدُ
6. Ever since he was in school
He strays from his lessons
٦. لَم يَزَل مُذ كانَ في الدَر
سِ عَنِ الدَرسِ يَحيدُ
7. His flaws were exposed
As was his poor intellect
٧. كُشِفَت عَنهُ خُزوزٌ
وَعَنِ الخَزِّ بُرودُ
8. Then they threatened him
With soft, harmless punishment
٨. ثُمَّ هالوهُ بِسَيرٍ
لَيِّنٍ ما فيهِ عودُ
9. At this, my dear cried out
"Teacher, I won't do it again"
٩. عِندَها صاحَ حَبيبي
يا مُعَلِّم لا أَعودُ
10. I said, "Hafiz, let him be
He will improve, I'm certain"
١٠. قُلتُ يا حَفصُ اِعفُ عَنهُ
إِنَّهُ سَوفَ يُجيدُ