ألم تر للجزيرة كيف أوفى

ألم تر للجزيرة كيف أوفى

عليها مثل ما انعطف السوار

عليها مثل ما انعطف السوار

Have you not seen, by the island, how it looms

Have you not seen how the island kept faith,

Over it, as a bracelet curves round?

As the bracelet's edges curve about it?

أعد بها على شاطيه دستاً

أعد بها على شاطيه دستاً

ومد يداً إليك بها يشار

ومد يداً إليك بها يشار

There upon its bank it has prepared a seat of honor,

With it he counts over the sandy shores,

And extended a hand toward you, gesturing with it.

And stretches out a hand to you in sign.

فإن تقبل تحيته فأجدر

فإن تقبل تحيته فأجدر

فربما تواصلت البحار

فربما تواصلت البحار

So if you accept its greeting, how fitting—

If you accept his greeting then more nobly,

For seas may well join one another.

Then may the seas keep tryst between you.

تحيط كما يحيط بها ولكن

تحيط كما يحيط بها ولكن

لسمط الدر في العنق افتخار

لسمط الدر في العنق افتخار

You encircle it as it does, and yet

They circle it as it encircles them

The strand of pearls about the neck takes pride.

But to wear the pearls at the throat is glory.