أَلْبَحْرُ صَعْبُ المُرامِ مُرٌّ

لا جُعِلَتْ حاجَتي إِليْهِ

The sea is bitter and difficult to cross

Yet I have great need of it

أَلَيْسَ ماءً وَنَحْنُ طِينٌ

فما عَسى صَبْرُنا عَلَيْهِ

Is it not but water and we but clay?

How then can we have patience for it?