ما أنسَ لا أنسَ خبازاً مررتُ به

يدحو الرقاقةَ وشكَ اللمح بالبصرِ

I have not forgotten, I have not forgotten a baker I passed by

Who kneads the loaf and gazes at it longingly

ما بين رؤيتها في كفه كرةً

وبين رؤيتها قوراءَ كالقمر

No sooner does he see it as a ball in his palm

Than as a full moon loaf ready and plump

إلا بمقدارِ ما تنداح دائرةٌ

في صفحة الماء يرمَى فيه بالحجر

In the time it takes a pebble's circle

To vanish in the water into which 'tis dropped