غَلُظَت شِفاه الشيخ حتى
ملا يبينُ ولا يرى
The sheikh's lips were so thick
They could barely be seen or discerned
فإذا مشى فكأنما
مشت الجبالُ أو القُرى
When he walked it was as though
Mountains or villages were walking
عَظُمَت ففاقَت رأسَهُ
وتراكَمت فوقَ الثَّرَى
His head was so enormous
It towered over the land
فكأنَّهُ وكأَنَّها
رَضوى استقلَّت خِنصرا
As if he and it
Were burdens that had become independent, haughty
يمشي الهوينا ثم يُو
هِمُ أَنَّه متبخترا
He walks conceitedly, intending
To appear arrogant
متثاقلاً من حَملها
متباطئاً متأخرا
Sluggish from its weight upon him
Slow, delayed
وإذا أراد النطق بالباءِ
تجاوزَتَا الوَرى
And when he wanted to speak the letter 'b'
It crossed horizons
بُعدُ المسافةِ فيهما
بعدُ السماء عن الثرى
The distance between them
Was the distance between sky and land
