كتبتُ لهُ ضيفاً على باب داره

كتبتُ لهُ ضيفاً على باب داره

فصحّفهُ صيفا وبادر بالسّيف

فصحّفهُ صيفا وبادر بالسّيف

I wrote 'a guest' for him on the door of his house.

I wrote to him "guest" upon his door

So he misread it as 'summer' and hastened with the sword.

But he misread it as "summer" and drew his sword

فقلتُ لهُ خيرا فظنّ بأننا

فقلتُ لهُ خيرا فظنّ بأننا

ذكرنا لهُ خُبزاً فمات من الخوف

ذكرنا لهُ خُبزاً فمات من الخوف

So I said 'good' to him, and he thought that we

So I said to him "good" but he thought

Had mentioned 'bread' to him, so he died of fright.

We mentioned "bread" to him, and he died of fear