اسمع حديثي تسمع قصة عجبا

اسمع حديثي تسمع قصة عجبا

لا شيء أعجب منها تبهر القصصا

لا شيء أعجب منها تبهر القصصا

Listen to my tale, and you will hear a wondrous story.

Listen to my account: you will hear a wondrous tale.

Nothing is more astonishing than it—it leaves all other tales dazzled.

Nothing is more wondrous than it; it eclipses all tales.

طلبت عكارة للوحل تحملني

طلبت عكارة للوحل تحملني

ورمتها عند من يحبي العصا فعصى

ورمتها عند من يحبي العصا فعصى

I sought a stout walking staff to support me through the mire.

I asked for a crutch to support me in the mud.

I sought it from one who gives staffs as gifts—but he refused.

And sought it from one who bestows the rod, but he refused.

وكنت أحسبه يهوى عصا عصب

وكنت أحسبه يهوى عصا عصب

ولم أخل أنه صب بكل عصا

ولم أخل أنه صب بكل عصا

And I had supposed that he desired a sinewy staff;

I had thought he loved a rod of sinew,

I never imagined that he was smitten with every staff.

And never imagined he was enamored of every rod.