كنما النيل الخضمّ إذ بدا

كنما النيل الخضمّ إذ بدا

يَروي حديثاً وهو ذو تَسَلْسُل

يَروي حديثاً وهو ذو تَسَلْسُل

As though the mighty Nile, when he appeared,

Like the mighty Nile when it began

Were recounting a tale in an unbroken chain.

Telling a tale though having continuity

لمّا رأى الأرض بها شقيقه

لمّا رأى الأرض بها شقيقه

ضمّخها بمائه المُصَندلِ

ضمّخها بمائه المُصَندلِ

When he saw the earth with his brother upon it,

When it saw the earth, its brother

He anointed her with his sandalwood-scented water.

It drenched it with its channeled water