أفديك ما اسمٌ إذا ما

أفديك ما اسمٌ إذا ما

صحَّفته فهو سَبعُ

صحَّفته فهو سَبعُ

May I be your ransom! What word is it that, when

My life for you—what name, when

you alter its dotting, becomes a beast of prey?

you change its dotting, becomes a beast of prey?

وإن تُصَحِّف بعكسِ

وإن تُصَحِّف بعكسِ

ففيه للقبط شَرعُ

ففيه للقبط شَرعُ

And if you alter its dotting the opposite way,

And if you change the dotting in reverse,

therein lies a religious rite for the Copts?

it contains a religious law for the Copts.

والاسمُ يُعربُ عما

والاسمُ يُعربُ عما

لديه رثيٌّ وشبعُ

لديه رثيٌّ وشبعُ

The word makes plain what

And the name tells of what

it holds: something threadbare, and fullness.

it holds: mixed fresh and sour milk, and satiety.

في النحل يلفى ولكن

في النحل يلفى ولكن

لا يتّقى فيه لسعُ

لا يتّقى فيه لسعُ

It is found among the bees, and yet

It is found among bees, but

no sting need be feared in it.

no sting is feared in it.

فهاكه قد تبدَّى

فهاكه قد تبدَّى

لحجبه عنه رَفعُ

لحجبه عنه رَفعُ

So there, take it—now it stands revealed,

So take it: now apparent

because the veil concealing it has been lifted away.

is the lifting of its veils from it.