رُبَّ نحويّ بدَا في خدِّه

رُبَّ نحويّ بدَا في خدِّه

عارض كاللام ما أعلى وأسنى

عارض كاللام ما أعلى وأسنى

Many a grammarian—upon his cheek appeared

Many a grammarian appeared with a mark on his cheek,

A sideburn like the letter lām—how lofty and radiant!

Like an elevated 'lam', so lofty and eminent.

قلت ما هذا السواد المنتحى

قلت ما هذا السواد المنتحى

قال حرف جاء في الحسن لمعنى

قال حرف جاء في الحسن لمعنى

I asked, “What is this slanting blackness?”

I asked, “What is this elegantly curved blackness?”

He said, “A letter that came into beauty to convey a meaning.”

He said, “A letter that came to adorn the meaning.”