the soldier calmly regarded the youth

nazar al-jandi bahdoua elly chabb

"I've had my wishes," he said, quietly

"luqud hoslat ola amniati", qal bahdoua

and his blotchy face turned a grave white

wathol wajha al-mubaqa elly qabar abid

"And did you really have the three wishes granted?"

"wahl hoslat haka ola al-amniat el-thulath"

"I had my wishes granted," confirmed the sergeant-major

"luqud tahaqat raghabati", akad al-raqib al-raed

"And has anybody else wished?" asked the old lady

"wahl raghab ei shakhs akhrej" salt sayedah al-ajwaz

"The first man had his three wishes," was the reply

"al-rajel al-awal can ladih amnyate al-thalath", can al-rad

"I don't know what the first two wishes were"

"la aaraf ma he ol amnitin"

"but the third wish was for death"

"lakin al-omaniya al-thaltha kant lemout"

"That's how I got the monkey's paw"

"hekida hoslat ola makhlab al-qard"

His tones had gotten very grave

asbaht naghmath khatira leghaya

a dark hush fell upon the group