والنيلُ مثلُ عِمامةٍ

والنيلُ مثلُ عِمامةٍ

نُشِرتْ مُحشّاةً بأَخْضَرْ

نُشِرتْ مُحشّاةً بأَخْضَرْ

And the Nile is like a turban,

The Nile is like a turban

unfurled, edged in green.

Unfurled and green-embroidered

والجسر فيها كالطِّرا

والجسر فيها كالطِّرا

ز ومَوْجُه رَقْمٌ مُصَوَّرْ

ز ومَوْجُه رَقْمٌ مُصَوَّرْ

And the bridge within it is like an embroidered

And the bridge across it is like a bracelet

band, and its waves are a figured pattern.

Its waves threaded and figured

والبحرُ في رأس الجزي

والبحرُ في رأس الجزي

رةِ كالسَّراويل المحرَّر

رةِ كالسَّراويل المحرَّر

And the sea at the head of the is-

And the sea at the head of the island

land is like finely worked trousers;

Is like pants stripped off

تَفْرِيكُه ما دَرَّجت

تَفْرِيكُه ما دَرَّجت

فيه الرياحُ من التكسُّر

فيه الرياحُ من التكسُّر

its pleating is what has been rolled

Ruffled by winds

into it by the winds in rippling folds.

Tearing through it