أَضمَرتُ لِلنيلِ هِجراناً وَمَقلِيَةً

أَضمَرتُ لِلنيلِ هِجراناً وَمَقلِيَةً

مُذ قيلَ لي إِنَّما التِمساحُ في النيلِ

مُذ قيلَ لي إِنَّما التِمساحُ في النيلِ

I inwardly resolved to shun and loathe the Nile,

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

I harbored for the Nile estrangement and disdain,

Since I was told that the crocodile is only in the Nile.

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

فَمَن رَأى النيلَ رَأيَ العَينِ مِن كَثَبٍ

فَما أَرى النيلَ إِلّا في البَواقيلِ

فَما أَرى النيلَ إِلّا في البَواقيلِ

So whoever has seen the Nile with his own eyes at close range—

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 water jars.

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

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