الماءُ يَلعَبُ كالأراقمِ مَوجُه

والسُّفْنُ بالأذنابِ فيه عَقارِبُ

The water plays like snakes, its waves

And ships in it are scorpion tails

والصَّوتُ من دُولابِ كلِّ متوَّجٍ

أطفالُ زَنْجٍ للرَّضاعِ نَوادِبُ

And the sound from every proud mill wheel

Is crying slave children at the breast

فانظُرْ إليه كأنه وكأنما

كِيزانُهُ والماءُ منها ساكبُ

So look at it as if it were

A balance with water pouring out

فَلَكٌ يدورُ بأنجمٍ جُعِلَت له

كالعِقدِ فهي شَوارِقٌ وغَواربُ

A sphere revolving with stars placed on it

Like a necklace, they are rising and setting