كتبتُ لهُ ضيفاً على باب داره

فصحّفهُ صيفا وبادر بالسّيف

I wrote to him "guest" upon his door

But he misread it as "summer" and drew his sword

فقلتُ لهُ خيرا فظنّ بأننا

ذكرنا لهُ خُبزاً فمات من الخوف

So I said to him "good" but he thought

We mentioned "bread" to him, and he died of fear