وحَالقٍ أَصْبَحَ في

فَنِّ الحِلاَقِ وَاحِدَا

A barber has become expert

In the art of barbering

لَهُ يَدٌ ألْطفُ مِنْ

مَرِّ النَّسيمِ بَاردَا

He has a hand gentler than

The cool breeze of spring

تُنيمُ من تَمُسُّهُ

ولا يَهبُّ رَاقِدَا

It puts to sleep whoever it touches

Without stirring the sleeper

أَوْدَعْتُهُ رأَسِي وَوَجْ

هِي قَائِماً وقَاعِدَا

I rested my head and face in it

Standing and sitting

فَنَالَ من هَذَا وذَا

كَ نَازِلاً وصَاعِدَا

It groomed this and that

Going up and down

فَرَدَّ رَأساً ناقِصاً

وَرَدَّ وجهاً زَائِدَا

But returned a diminished head

And an increased face