إِنَّindeed الأحبَّةَthe loved ones بانواthey departed
إِنَّ الأحبَّةَ بانوا
وَخَلَّفونيand they left me طَريحاlying stricken
وَخَلَّفوني طَريحا
Indeed, the loved ones have departed
and left me lying stricken.
فَحاجso pose a riddle ياO صاحِmy friend ماwhat عَكrever- (first part of عكس, ‘reverse’)
فَحاج يا صاحِ ما عَك
سُ-se (completes عكس, ‘reverse’) مثلlike بانواthey departed صَحيحاcorrectly
سُ مثل بانوا صَحيحا
So riddle me, friend: what is the rever—
—se of a word like “they departed,” rightly understood?