ما كنت أحسب لولا نبت عارضه

أن ينبت الآس وسط الجمر بالنهر

I did not expect, were it not for an incident,

That alas would grow amidst embers by the river,

ولا ظننت صغار النمل يمكنها

مشيا على اللج أو سعيا على السعر

Nor did I think ants, however small,

Could walk on burning coal or climb barren hills.