Egypt
Egypt is often referred to as the mother of the world, renowned since ancient times for its art, civilization, and rich heritage. It is a country that invites you into a realm of imagination and magic. When one thinks of Egypt, the first image that comes to mind is the world’s longest river, the Nile. This beautiful and generous nation is celebrated for its people, monuments, and statues, making it a living museum of global significance. Throughout history, poets have sung its praises, and scholars and writers have extolled its virtues. In this article, we present some of the most beautiful verses and reflections about Egypt from notable figures.
Beautiful Verses Praising Egypt
- Oh Egypt, mother of civilization and the modern age, you are the origin of integrity and purity. My homeland, I love you with all my heart and soul.
- Tears have streamed down to your doorsteps, Oh Egypt, for all my affection flows in your flowing Nile.
- Where shall we begin speaking about you, Oh Egypt? How can we greet you before bowing in respect? For in your eyes lie the days, the flags, the pens, and the years.
- Oh Egypt, land of verdant fields, of blue skies; you are the realm of knowledge and wisdom. You are the sanctuary of the yellow mountains and the green palms. You are the oasis of sweet waters and pure hearts. You are the cradle of poetry and poets, the city home to the Prince of Poets. My beloved Egypt, I cherish you.
- You stand as the emblem of our era, a battalion of triumph, and a palace of grandeur.
- Egypt, mother of the world.
- Oh Egypt, you hold grace and authority; how many hearts have been enchanted within your embrace.
- Egypt does not ask, it commands.
- Nothing is new in Egypt; the Egyptians continue to craft history as they always have.
- Egypt is a land of civilizations.
- Oh Egypt, you are the mother of culture, the pioneer of skills, and the facilitator of excellence.
- To Egypt have flowed my dreams and longings, and my tears have brought forth love, while my heart speaks of hope and longing.
Poems About Egypt
A Poem for Egypt
Mohamed Naguib Mourad, known as the Poet of the Arabs, was born in 1957 in the city of Hama, Syria. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery from Alexandria University and currently works as a consultant for ear and throat surgery. He has written an extensive poem praising the Prophet Muhammad, titled “The Prophetic Biography Explained.” However, his tribute to Egypt includes the following lines:
Gift from God since ancient times,
It is Egypt; let my tongue run free.
Break the boundaries of form and measure,
For love might be stronger than metrics.
Here flows the Nile, graceful as it weeps,
Shedding tears for the beloved valleys.
As if the waters are the tears of a lover,
Flowing tenderly over the eyelids.
And trees seem to play with youth,
As they melt, like maidens at play.
Indeed, the flowers resemble the cheeks of a virgin,
Softened by the Nile’s touch.
Even the palms resemble a bride’s neck,
With dates as beautiful adornments.
The gentle breeze murmurs,
Resembling the tenderness in the grace of the maidens.
The white birds create a symphony,
As the lute opens its heart to the violin.
And the sun at dawn recites light,
Above the expanse of fields and meadows.
Perhaps the water dances between the gardens,
Intoxicating the heart like a cup of wine.
Beauty counts in every splendid form,
And the Nile is a treasure among treasures.
It glides upon the surface of the Nile’s page,
With the night and love by its side.
A watchman among the clouds looks down,
As laughter flashes from twinkling lips.
And conversation flows without words,
Summarizing a thousand sermons in two glances.
Oh Egypt, I am your lover until
I no longer shed tears from my eyes.
Love’s misfortune has often pierced me,
And my patience has been tested by fate’s challenge.
I have encountered sweetness and bitterness,
With eyes as bright as the dawn’s first light.
I entered the battle of love, but
My sword and horse slipped away from me.
Could Egypt have colored me with youth?
It dressed me and tailored my garments.
It clothed me in perfumes,
Whose fragrance lingers on my hem.
And offered me the finest of drinks,
Its purity evident in every word.
I am indeed a Shafii who has come to Egypt,
For the law is new in its meanings.
Before her, poetry did not exist;
All that was before were mere fragments.
After her, a burst of brilliance emerged,
As “Chauki” and “Hafez” rose before me.
Oh envious ones, love is but a desire,
Undoubtedly, it is … envied.
Flowers do not shy away if it is said,
That the cheeks of flowers are blushing red.
Egypt has folded the pages of all nights,
For it is immortalizing every moment.
And it leaves its mark in every heart,
And in my heart, it has left two imprints.
Egypt, oh Egypt, records all the histories,
In a race, while you flow onward.
“Aziz”, “Yusuf”, and “Zuleikha”,
Enter our “Egypt” securely.
And the divine presence in the mount is sufficient
To ensure your glory, Oh Egypt, in every realm.
And the hymns praising you continue
In the lines of the Bible and the Quran.
From the soil of Egypt, two grandmothers descended for the Arabs,
And they meet at the mingling of their roots.
The bond of blood and belief is Egypt,
Its secret everlasting is “the Merciful.”
Ask the scholars and students of the tradition,
How it was for the forebears, like generous bosoms.
And ask the “Dhad” who guarded it, and it will answer.
It is Al-Azhar Al-Sharif that has protected me.
And mention to me a pinnacle of knowledge and art,
It has not risen above Egypt.
Ask the sands who nurtured them; they will answer you:
The army of Egypt nourished me with its blood.
And witness the eye of “Ain Jalout” recounts,
After “Qutz”, its tale is majestic.
And it will tell of Hattin: the army of Saleh,
Is in the heart and wings, “Kinanî”.
There is no victory without Egypt, I swear,
Have you seen horses without riders?
There is no revival in the east without Egypt,
How can a house rise without foundations?
The sun has stitched a dress for Kinanah,
A wedding gown … oh, the beauty of its silk.
Then it sprinkled it with stars,
Lighting up the universe with its divine essence.
When the suns weave threads,
For a beloved one … glory is in the details.
Oh bride of time, showers of brilliance fall upon you,
As you wear the luminous crown.
Then it bows its dignity in reverence,
Pressing a kiss to your hand with love.
And when the kiss of time comes, it creates lips,
And if “the smile” departs in Aswan’s embrace,
Her “smile” astonished the seas, causing them to flow,
Finding solace along its shores.
The sea rested its head and wished
For the dreams of the ocean—which are the sweetest wishes.
And it placed its palm upon the shells,
As pearls rained down in every place.
The sea dreamed of a night, yet when
The morning broke … it was but a vision.
Thus by “Alexandria,” the sea anchored,
And poetry made its home in Alexandria.
Oh Egypt … when I recall you,
My verses brim with joy and melodies.
With fields of violets, my poetry lies,
And my rhymes sigh with basil’s fragrance.
My words bloom like almond blossoms, but,
The dot of the letter is a pomegranate seed.
Despite this, Egypt stands taller and more cherished,
So forgive me for what lies beyond my reach.
My brush attempted, and my words, yet,
Egypt has rendered my brush and tongue mute.
If You Ask About Egypt, the Eve of Villages
Ahmed Shawqi, born in 1868 in Cairo, completed his high school education and studied law. He was appointed by Khedive to his court and then sent to France for further studies. Upon the outbreak of World War I, the British exiled him to Andalusia. His first volume of “The Shawqiyyat” was published in 1890, and among his notable plays are “Majnoun Laila,” “On the Back of the Great,” “The Death of Cleopatra,” and “Cambyses.” He composed a poem titled “If You Ask About Egypt, the Eve of Villages,” in which he writes:
If you ask about Egypt, the Eve of Villages,
And the reservoir of history and antiquities,
Then the dawn in Menfe and Thiba is clear,
Who can deny the dawn’s appearance?
With the height in Menfe and its outskirts,
The glory embedded in sands’ enigmatic allure.
Time has passed, yet its eyes have never closed,
Day and night have ushered events that endure.
Time has not worn down its strength, nor has it diminished,
From harsh fingernails and grinding despair.
For three centuries, time has been remarkably resilient,
Rising from the earth across the years, divine.
Standing firmly on the covenant of the Nile,
A sycamore of pride, it embraces its essence.
From all that ere thrived in soft earth,
Soaring as if the storm should take flight.
In its hallways, demons linger,
Fulfilling the magnificent work of architects and diggers.
The earth scarce finds ways to wrest it free,
With the shape of the crucified by nails.
Within these tombs lies glory, restrained,
What conceals itself from the bonds of the past.
How long did kings rest in silence within her,
Finding solace in the eternal stillness.
None are like the people who resided there,
Endlessly waiting for the passage of time’s embrace.
They saw the light of the moon when it peeked her head,
Leaving the throne like a fleeting hour.
The glorious consist of those who reigned on earth,
Surveying the dwellings of the noble.
Time peeled off their tapestry of grandeur,
Banishing the secret masks of fate.
Woe to those who have not observed their grandeur,
But the layers of sand have reduced their air.
They roam the earth, their story remains unforgotten,
Finding the path igniting a spark of pride.
Words About Egypt
- Peace to you, oh land of the Nile, mother of generations.
- Egypt, a land that turns turmoil into nobility.
- In Egypt, hearts embrace, lovers meet; it is where Joseph met Jacob.
- In Egypt, the poetic rhythm flows, enchanting phrases fill the air.
- Love is your land, beauty is your ceiling, and glory is your safeguard. Inside Egypt, a thousand welcomes await; how beautiful is the neck, the eyes, and the hands.
- In Egypt, poetry flourishes, and eloquent pens illuminate with creativity.
- Egypt is a river that flows, beauty that flourishes, tears that glisten, flowers that bloom, dreams that unfold, and promises that fulfill.