لَمّا أَتى النيلُ لَنا مِن لُجِّهِ

بِسائِقٍ يَركُضُ مِلءَ فَرجِهِ

When the Nile came to us from its depths

With a driver galloping full of vigor

سِرتُ بِهِ في طُرُقاتِ خُلجِهِ

مَع فائِقِ بِدَلِّهِ وَغُنجِهِ

I roamed its winding paths

With its replacement and profit

يَطرِبُني إِيقاعُهُ بِصَنجِهِ

وَالزَهرُ بَينَ أَغاني قُبحِهِ

Its rhythm excites me with its clanging

And flowers amidst the ugliness of its songs

أَشرَبُ ما لا بُدَّ لي مِن مَزجِهِ

جَمراً يَدي آمِنَةً مِن وَجهِهِ

I drink what I must of its blend

A coal with hands safe from its heat

تَجمَعُ بَينَ نارِهِ وَثَلجِهِ

لَم أَرمشهِ مُعتَمِداً لِشَجِّهِ

It combines its fire and coolness

I did not blink relying on its ardour

إِلّا تَلالا نَجمِهِ في بُرجِهِ

فَذُقتُ وَقتاً طابَ لي مِن نَفجِهِ

Except for the hills of its stars in its mansions

So I tasted a time sweet to me from its essence

لا يُمرَجُ العَيشُ بِمِثلِ مَرجِهِ

حَتّى إِذا اللَيلُ بَدا مِن فَجِّهِ

Life is not flavored with the like of its flavor

Until when the night emerged from its darkness

رَكِبَت يَوماً لَم أَمَل في سَرجِهِ

وَلا ثَنَيتُ مُقلَتي عَن نَهجِهِ

One day I rode without hoping for its saddle

Nor did I turn my eyelid from its path

حَتّى بَدا الصُبحِ لَهُ بِعِلجِهِ

فَقُمتُ مَسروراً بِقَتلِ زَنجِهِ

Until dawn appeared to it with its treatment

So I rose happy with killing its trouble