وَأَديبٍ لَهُ فَمٌ كُلَّ يَومٍ

وَأَديبٍ لَهُ فَمٌ كُلَّ يَومٍ

يَبلُغُ المَوزَ بِالقُشورِ صِحاحا

يَبلُغُ المَوزَ بِالقُشورِ صِحاحا

And a man of letters whose mouth, each day,

A scholar who each day opens his mouth,

Reaches bananas whole, skins and all.

Yet his knowledge amounts to empty shells,

يَشتَهي البَيضَ إِن رَآهُ وَلَكِن

يَشتَهي البَيضَ إِن رَآهُ وَلَكِن

كُلَّما ذاقَهُ يَقِئُ مِحاحا

كُلَّما ذاقَهُ يَقِئُ مِحاحا

He craves eggs if he sees them, and yet

He craves an egg whene'er one's in his sight,

Whenever he tastes them, he vomits yolks.

But each taste makes him retch with bitter hells.