على الجِذْعِ مُوفٍ لا يزالُ كأَنَّه

على الجِذْعِ مُوفٍ لا يزالُ كأَنَّه

سليبٌ دعا قوماً اليه فأَقبلوا

سليبٌ دعا قوماً اليه فأَقبلوا

Upon the tree trunk, one stands aloft, still seeming like

On a stump remains standing as if

a stripped man who summoned people to him, and they came.

A cross inviting people who came

فقامَ يُماريهم وقد مدَّ باعَه

فقامَ يُماريهم وقد مدَّ باعَه

يقولُ لهم عَرضي أَم الطولُ أَطوَلُ

يقولُ لهم عَرضي أَم الطولُ أَطوَلُ

Then he stood disputing with them, his arms outstretched,

He stood facing them having spread his arms

saying to them, “Which is longer—my width or my height?”

Saying to them, is my width or my height longer