بَلَوتَ أَبا أَحمَدٍ مَرَّةً

بَلَوتَ أَبا أَحمَدٍ مَرَّةً

فَأَلفَيتُ مِنهُ بَخيلاً سَخيفا

فَأَلفَيتُ مِنهُ بَخيلاً سَخيفا

I tested Abu Ahmad once,

You tested Abu Ahmad once;

and found him miserly and contemptible.

so I found him miserly and foolish.

وَلَولا الضَرورَةُ لَم آتِهِ

وَلَولا الضَرورَةُ لَم آتِهِ

وَعِندَ الضَرورَةِ آتي الكَنيفا

وَعِندَ الضَرورَةِ آتي الكَنيفا

Were it not for necessity, I would never have gone to him;

Were it not for necessity, I would not go to him;

and when necessity calls, I go to the privy.

and when necessity calls, I go to the latrine.