ورأيتُه في الطِّرسِ يكتُبُ مرةً

ورأيتُه في الطِّرسِ يكتُبُ مرةً

غلطاً يُواصِل محوَهُ بِرُضابِهِ

غلطاً يُواصِل محوَهُ بِرُضابِهِ

And once I saw him writing on the parchment

I saw him in frustration writing

an error, which he kept erasing with his saliva.

A mistake he keeps erasing with his blows

فوددتُ أنّي في يده صحيفةٌ

فوددتُ أنّي في يده صحيفةٌ

ووددتُه لا يهتَدِي لصَوابِهِ

ووددتُه لا يهتَدِي لصَوابِهِ

So I wished I were a page in his hand,

I wished I was a paper in his hand

and wished he would not find how to correct it.

I wished he would not find his way or compose