رأى الصيف مكتوباً على باب داره

رأى الصيف مكتوباً على باب داره

فصحفه ضيفاً فقام إلى السيفِ

فصحفه ضيفاً فقام إلى السيفِ

He saw “summer” written on the door of his house.

He saw summer written on his house's door

So he misread it as “guest” and rose to reach for the sword.

So he welcomed it as a guest and went to get his sword

فقلنا له خيراً فظن بأنَّنا

فقلنا له خيراً فظن بأنَّنا

نقول له خبزاً فمات من الخوفِ

نقول له خبزاً فمات من الخوفِ

So we said “good” to him, but he thought that we

When we bid him well, he thought

Were saying “bread” to him, and he died of fright.

We told him "bread", so he died of fright