ركبت في البحر يوماً مع أخي أدبٍ

ركبت في البحر يوماً مع أخي أدبٍ

فقال دعني من قالٍ ومن قيلٍ

فقال دعني من قالٍ ومن قيلٍ

One day I sailed upon the sea with a brother in letters.

I rode upon the sea one day with my brother of good manners

He said, “Spare me ‘he said’ and ‘it was said’—

He said leave me be of what was said and told

شرحت يا بحر صدري اليوم قلت له

شرحت يا بحر صدري اليوم قلت له

لا تنكر الشرح يا نحوي للنيل

لا تنكر الشرح يا نحوي للنيل

You have opened my heart today, O sea!” I said to him:

I opened my heart today, oh sea, and said to it

“Do not deny the Nile its heart-opening power, O grammarian.”

Do not deny explanation, oh grammarian, to the Nile