قد طغى يطفح الفرات وعبا

يملأ الانفس الجريئة رعبا

The Euphrates has burst its bounds, overflowing and surging,

filling fearless souls with terror.

ساعة ثم طبق الارض ماءاً

فكأن الاتي قد جاء وثبا

An hour—and then it covered the earth with water,

as though what was coming had arrived in a leap.

ان ذاك الذي حسبناه نهراً ضيقاً

امسى اليوم كالبحر رحبا

Indeed, what we had thought a narrow river

has today become as vast as the sea.

غمر الجانبين منه وانحجى

يتسامى الى التلاع فاربى

It submerged both its banks and hid itself,

rising toward the hills, then higher still.

اغرق الزرع والمساكن والشا

ء مطافيل والبساتين غلبا

It drowned the crops, the dwellings, and the sheep—

with their young—and the thickly wooded gardens.

كذبتنا الحياة في كل شيء

ولعل الآمال اكثر كذبا

Life has lied to us about everything,

and perhaps hopes are more deceitful.