قالَ الغَديرُ لِنَفسِهِ

يا لَيتَني نَهرٌ كَبير

The stream said to itself

The brook said unto itself,

I wish I were a great river

"Oh, how I wish I were a mighty river,

مِثلُ الفُراتِ العَذبِ أَو

كَالنيلِ ذي الفَيضِ الغَزير

Like the fresh Euphrates or

Like the sweet Euphrates, or

The Nile with its plentiful overflow

Like the Nile of bountiful flood,

تَجري السَفائِنُ موقِراتٌ

فيهِ بِالرِزقِ الوَفير

Ships would sail proudly on me

Wherein ships sail, heavily laden

With abundant provisions

With cargoes of abundant provision.

هَيهاتِ يَرضى بِالحَقيرِ

مِنَ المُنى إِلّا الحَقير

Alas, only the lowly are content

Nay, none is content with the paltry

With petty wishes

Among desires, save the paltry soul."

وَاِنسابَ نَحوَ النَهرِ لا

يَلوي عَلى المَرجِ النَضير

And flows towards the river not

So it flowed toward the river, never

Turning on the lush meadow

Glancing back at the blooming meadow,

حَتّى إِذا ما جائَهُ

غَلَبَ الهَديرُ عَلى الخَرير

Until when it comes to it

Until, the moment it reached the waters,

The roar overwhelms the murmur

The mighty roar drowned out the gentle murmur.