دلاbehold الرجلthe man هوhe وابنهand his son
دلا الرجل هو وابنه
ماnot يسمعhe hears إلاexcept بودنهwith his ear
ما يسمع إلا بودنه
Behold the man—he and his son.
The man walked with his son
He hears only with his ear.
Hearing only his closeness
قالواthey said ويأكلand he eats بسنهwith his tooth
قالوا ويأكل بسنه
ماnot لهhe has فيin it نصيبa share عجيبwondrous غريبstrange
ما له في نصيب عجيب غريب
They said he eats with his tooth, too.
They said he eats with his age
He has no share in it—wondrous, strange.
He has a strange wondrous fate
الفيلthe elephant مشيwalked فيin الرُّميلهal-Rumayla
الفيل مشي في الرُّميله
وجاand came علىto بابgate زويلهZuwayla
وجا على باب زويله
The elephant walked in al-Rumayla.
The elephant walked on the sand dune
And came to Zuwayla Gate.
And came upon the door of the hut
منfrom فوقabove ظهرهits back طبيلهa little drum
من فوق ظهره طبيله
ذاthis شيsomething قريبclose at hand عجيبwondrous غريبstrange
ذا شي قريب عجيب غريب
On top of its back was a little drum.
On his back a drum
This is something close at hand—wondrous, strange.
This thing is close, strange, and wondrous
الخبزbread بالتركيin Turkish انمكanmak (bread)
الخبز بالتركي انمك
وإنand even if سمّتهshe calls it ممmam (baby talk for food) أمّكyour mother
وإن سمّته مم أمّك
Bread in Turkish is “anmak,”
Bread in Turkish is called ekmek
Even if your mother calls it “mam.”
Even if your mother named it me'm
دلاbehold وبوكand your father خيّbrother عمّكyour paternal uncle
دلا وبوك خيّ عمّك
ماnot هوhe كالغريبlike a stranger عجيبwondrous غريبstrange
ما هو كالغريب عجيب غريب
Behold—and your father is your uncle’s brother.
O Uncle, you are my brother
He is not like a stranger—wondrous, strange.
It's not like the stranger's wondrous fate