أَضمَرتُ لِلنيلِ هِجراناً وَمَقلِيَةً

مُذ قيلَ لي إِنَّما التِمساحُ في النيلِ

I bore a grudge against the Nile, and an aversion,

I harbored for the Nile estrangement and disdain,

Since I was told that only crocodiles frequent the Nile.

Since I was told the crocodile swims in that domain.

فَمَن رَأى النيلَ رَأيَ العَينِ مِن كَثَبٍ

فَما أَرى النيلَ إِلّا في البَواقيلِ

He who sees the Nile, sees it through a veil of tears,

Let him who wishes see the Nile from the river's brink,

As for me, I see the Nile only in goblets.

I do not see the Nile except in the cups I drink.