قَالَ لِي عِنْدَمَا أتَى بِجِدَالٍ

وَشُكُوكٍ عَلَى أُصُولِ الدِّينِ

When he came at me with arguments

and doubts about the principles of religion,

وَلِسَانِي يُبَدِّلُ الدَّالَ تَاءً

عَاجِزاً فِي الأُمُورِ عَنْ تَبيِينِ

and my tongue switched the 'd' to a 't',

powerless in matters to make plain,

اِلْتَمِسْ مَخْرَجاً يُوَافِقُ قَوْلِي

قُلْتُ أَحْسَنْتَ يَا جَلاَل التِّينِ

I sought a way out concordant with my words -

"You have spoken well, O Majesty of the Fig," I said.