الدراهم مراهم تخلى للعويل مقدار و بعد ما كان بكر سموه الحاج بكار
El darahem marahem tekhalli lil awil meqdar we ba’d ma kan bakr sammuh el hagg bakkar.
Translation: Money is a potion that gives a man stature, so who was once Bakr is now Hagg Bakkar
Meaning: This wonderful quatraine is out of use, as few people are willing to intersperse daily conversation with a four-line stanza. Although it is guaranteed to get laughs, it also illustrates the transformative power of money and wealth.
Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha
Translated by: Nabil Shawkat
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