اِنظُر إليهِ محوّقاً عينيهِ

اِنظُر إليهِ محوّقاً عينيهِ

وَمُجافياً عَن ثغرهِ شفتيهِ

وَمُجافياً عَن ثغرهِ شفتيهِ

Look at him, his eyes wide and round,

Look at him, his eyes squinted

And his lips drawn back from his mouth;

And his lips refusing his mouth

فَكأنّه كلبٌ أحسّ بقنفذٍ

فَكأنّه كلبٌ أحسّ بقنفذٍ

خشيَ التشوّك إذ يغور عليهِ

خشيَ التشوّك إذ يغور عليهِ

So he is like a dog that has sensed a hedgehog,

As though he were a dog who sensed a hedgehog

Fearing to be pricked as he lunges at it.

Fearing the prickles as it rolled toward him