قَد قالَ كاتبُ حانوتٍ لتاجرهِ

هَذي سَفاتِجُكَ ازدادت هنا عددا

The shop owner said to his merchant

Your books here have increased in number

أَلا نَخيطُ حواشيها وَنجمعها

مَعاً وَأَحفَظُ ذا من كونِها بددا

Shall we sew their edges and gather them

Together, so I can keep this from scattering

فأَجفل التاجر المُثرى وقال لَهُ

ماذا تَقولُ عدِمتَ الفهمَ وَالرشدا

The wealthy merchant was startled and said to him

What are you saying? You lack understanding and wisdom

أَلَيسَ شكلَ كتابٍ ذا وَطَرفي ان

رأَى الكتابَ وَلَو في نومهِ رَمِدا

Is not a book's shape with its covers that

If seen even in sleep would remind one of a book

وَها الدَفاترُ منذ البدءِ في يدكم

كَي لا أَرى الكُتبَ أو اشباهها ابدا

And here are the records from the beginning in your hands

So I never see books or their likes ever