سألنا معالي مصر هل لكِ عودةٌ

وهل سابقاتُ الدهر يدنو بعيدُها

We asked your Excellency Egypt, will you return?

And will the past days, does their distant one draw near?

فقالت بإسماعيلَ أوحدِ عصرِه

وجدْتُ لأيامٍ الصِّبا مَنْ يُعيدُها

She said, by Ismail I stand alone in my time,

For the days of youth, I found one who brings them back.