سَأَلتُهُ التَقبيلَ في خَدِّهِ

كَم قُبلَةً مِن بَعدِ طولِ الغِيابِ

I asked him for a kiss on his cheek

How many kisses after long absence

فَقالَ كَم تَرجو فَقُلتُ أَعطِني

عَشراً وَما زادَ يَكونُ اِحتِسابِ

He said, how many do you want? I said

Ten, and whatever more is a bonus

وَمُذ تَعانَقنا وَقَبَّلتُهُ

عَدَدتُ لِلسَبعِ بِغَيرِ اِتِيابِ

Since we embraced and I kissed him

I counted up to seven without hesitation

وَقَبلَ أَن آتي عَلى تِسعَةٍ

غَلِطتُ في العَدِّ وَضاعَ الحِسابِ

And before reaching nine

I lost count, and the tally was lost