لقدindeed رأيتI have seen بمصرٍin Egypt مذsince حللتI settled بهاin it
لقد رأيت بمصرٍ مذ حللت بها
عجائباًwonders منwho رآهاsaw them الناسthe people فيin جيلa generation
عجائباً من رآها الناس في جيل
Since I settled in Egypt, I have indeed seen
Since I came to Egypt, I have seen
wonders—who among the people has seen them in a generation?
Wonders that people of an era have seen
تسودturns black فيin عينيmy eyes الدنياthe world فلمand not (past negation) أرهاI see it
تسود في عيني الدنيا فلم أرها
تبيضturn white إلاexcept إذاwhen ماemphatic particle كنتI was فيin النيلthe Nile
تبيض إلا إذا ما كنت في النيل
The world turns black in my eyes, and I have not seen it
The world was bleak in my eyes, I did not see it
turn white except when I am in the Nile.
Brighten, except when I was by the Nile