1. لَمّا طهّروني

    كنت أنا صغير

    When they circumcised me,

    I was young.

  2. راحوا لبسوني

    طاقية حرير

    They went and dressed me

    in a silk cap.

  3. واتحنيت يا سيدي

    في رجلي وإيدي

    And I had henna applied, my good sir,

    on my feet and hands.

  4. صرت أفرح وما لي

    بالطهور خبر

    I began rejoicing, having no

    knowledge of circumcision.

  5. رجع وقع وجع دفع

    عني اصطباري

    Then pain struck again and drove

    my endurance away from me.

  6. منها ما بقيت عمري

    اعمل لي طهور

    After that, never again in my life

    would I have myself circumcised.

  7. يا ما أحلى الوليدات

    يبقوا في الزفف

    Oh, how lovely the little boys are

    when they are in the festive processions,

  8. من فوق الخويلات

    تمشي أو تقف

    atop the little horses,

    walking or standing still.

  9. والنسوان تراهم

    في فرحة وراهم

    And the women—you see them

    rejoicing behind them.

  10. يبقوا في زغاريط

    بينهم وشي

    They keep ululating,

    with gossip among them,

  11. وحال وبال وقيل

    وقال طول النهار

    and fuss and bother, and ‘it was said’

    and ‘he said,’ all day long.

  12. دلا والصغار دا

    اليوم يبقوا في سرور

    These folk and the little ones, on this

    day, are full of joy.