تحية عمرو لك بل عمر

وأهلا بكم أيهذا القمر

Amr's greeting to you—nay, Umar's!

And welcome to you, O moon!

تجرّ البحيرة أذيالها

وتسبق بين يديك الزمر

Beheira trails her skirts,

And outstrips the throngs before you.

وتمشى مجمَّلة بالحلىّ

وقد تتجلى ذوات الخفر

And walks adorned with jewels,

And even modest women may unveil themselves.

وتزهو بزينتها كالعروس

وأنت الخطيب الحبيب الأغر

And glories in her finery like a bride,

While you are the beloved, radiant suitor.

وما زينت لك بين القلوب

أجل وأجمل مما ظهر

And what she has adorned for you within hearts

Is grander and lovelier than what is seen.

وتبعث من ملحها حفنة

لعين الحسود إذا ما نظر

And sends a handful of her salt

Toward the envious one's eye whenever he looks.

تجلّى الصباح على أفقها

فألقى بغرّته وانتظر

Morning shone upon her horizon,

Then cast forth its radiant brow and waited.

وبشرها بك خفق الريا

ح وبعد الرياح يكون المطر

And glad news of you was brought to her by the flutter of the win-

ds; and after the winds comes rain.

تهب على الريح من شوقها

كأن سليمان بالريف مر

She springs onto the wind in her longing,

As though Solomon had passed through the countryside.