وَكَيفَ تَوارى البَحرُ في قعرِ مَلحدٍ

وَكَيفَ تَوارى البَحرُ في قعرِ مَلحدٍ

وَقَد كانَ لا يُلفى لِلجَّتِهِ قعرُ

وَقَد كانَ لا يُلفى لِلجَّتِهِ قعرُ

And how did the sea vanish into the depths of a grave,

How could the sea now disappear in the depths of a graveyard

when no bottom could be found for its deep waters?

When once no bottom could be found however far one plunged?

تَوارَت به تلك الجَلالةُ في الثَرى

تَوارَت به تلك الجَلالةُ في الثَرى

كَما يَتوارى في ثَرى المعدن التبرُ

كَما يَتوارى في ثَرى المعدن التبرُ

With him, that majesty vanished into the earth,

With him has vanished all splendour into the dust.

just as raw gold lies hidden in the soil of the mine.

Just as ambergris lies buried in the clay of oceans.