ماnot كُنتُI was أَحسَبُI think أَنَّthat الخُبزَthe bread فاكِهَةٌa fruit
ما كُنتُ أَحسَبُ أَنَّ الخُبزَ فاكِهَةٌ
حَتّىuntil نَزَلتُI lodged عَلىwith زَيدِZayd بنِson of مَنصورِMansur
حَتّى نَزَلتُ عَلى زَيدِ بنِ مَنصورِ
I never thought that bread was a fruit
I never thought that bread was a fruit
until I lodged with Zayd ibn Mansur—
Until I lodged with Zayd, son of Mansur,
الحابِسِwho holds back الروثَthe dung فيin أَعفاجِthe intestines of بَغلَتِهِhis she-mule
الحابِسِ الروثَ في أَعفاجِ بَغلَتِهِ
خَوفاًout of fear عَلىfor الحَبِّthe grain مِنfrom لَقطِthe pecking of العَصافيرِthe sparrows
خَوفاً عَلى الحَبِّ مِن لَقطِ العَصافيرِ
who keeps the dung confined in his mule’s entrails,
Who keeps the dung trapped in his she-mule’s intestines,
fearing lest sparrows peck the grain from it.
Fearing for the grain, lest the sparrows peck it up.
