أَبْدَى لَنَا لَمَّا بَدا قَرْعَةً

يَحارُ فى تَشْبِيههَا القَلْبُ

When it appeared, it puzzled us,

The heart bewildered in likening it.

قَالُوا فَهَلْ تَشْبَهُ يَقْطِينةً

فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كانَ لَهَا لُبُّ

They said, "Does it resemble a cut of silk?"

I said, "If only it had a core."