بنفسيَwith my soul, as ransom منthe one whom أُسَمِّيهاI call her بستيas 'my lady' (also 'my six')
بنفسيَ من أُسَمِّيها بستي
فترمقُنىso they eye me النحاةُthe grammarians بعينwith an eye مقتِof loathing
فترمقُنى النحاةُ بعين مقتِ
My soul be ransom for her whom I call 'my lady';
With my soul I call her my Sitti
Yet the grammarians eye me with loathing.
And the grammarians look at me askance
وقدand indeed ملكتshe has possessed جهاتِdirections الستِthe six منىof me
وقد ملكت جهاتِ الستِ منى
لماذاwhy لاnot أُسميّهاI call her بستيas 'my six' (also 'my lady')
لماذا لا أُسميّها بستي
And she has taken possession of my six directions—
Though her being has possessed my senses
Why should I not call her 'my six'?
Why should I not call her my Sitti