لَمّا اِلتَحى وَتَبَدَّلَت

لَمّا اِلتَحى وَتَبَدَّلَت

مِنهُ السُعودُ لَهُ نُحوسا

مِنهُ السُعودُ لَهُ نُحوسا

When he grew a beard, and fortune turned

When fortune turned its face from him

from good luck to ill luck for him,

And luck brought only woes,

أَبدَيتُ لَمّا راحَ يَح

أَبدَيتُ لَمّا راحَ يَح

لِقُ خَدَّهُ مَعنىً نَفيسا

لِقُ خَدَّهُ مَعنىً نَفيسا

I voiced, when he went to shave

I turned away when troubles came

his cheek, a precious thought.

And sorrow filled his days.

وَأَذَعتُ عَنهُ بِأَنَّهُ

وَأَذَعتُ عَنهُ بِأَنَّهُ

لَم يَقصِدِ القَصدَ الخَسيسا

لَم يَقصِدِ القَصدَ الخَسيسا

And I proclaimed of him that

And spread the word that in his fall

he intended no base purpose;

No base intent had he,

لَكِن غَدا وَعِذارُهُ

لَكِن غَدا وَعِذارُهُ

خَضِرٌ فَساقَ إِلَيهِ موسى

خَضِرٌ فَساقَ إِلَيهِ موسى

but morning found him with his cheek-down

But on the morrow his excuses

green—Khidr—so he brought Musa, a razor, to it.

Like Moses' staff, sprouted leaves.