1. I see a tree in the sky that hid away,
And broke the reins in amazing display,

2. Minarets erected here and there,
Their features, steps made with great care,

3. No men make the call to prayer in them,
But sunsets cry out as dusk makes its hymn,

4. And tall ones amid daughters of sands,
Grew and nurtured in shades of dunes.

5. Like ship masts or caravans’ flags,
Or lighthouses beyond the crags,

6. Swaying short and tall behind a dune,
When the wind blows or goes immune.

7. Appearing like flames at dawn’s first light,
With dawn’s rays or clouds’ fringes bright,

8. And Pharaoh’s summering consort on a yard,
Of the palace, waiting and on guard,

9. Adorned with carnelian necklaces fine,
Joined with pieces of gold that shine,

10. And pearls around her neck descended,
And silk around her waist upended,

11. From her head to toes in a sash knitted,
Is this the palm tree, meadows’ prince,

12. Master of fields, dunes’ bride to convince,
Food of poor and candy of rich,

13. Travelers’ and emigrants’ cache.
Oh palm tree of the sand, you never stint,

14. Nor do palms of dust their yield stint,
Most wondrous is how your fame waned,

15. As Arab poets no more remained,
Is it not so wrong poetry devoid,

16. Of describing you, books occulted.
You are, in emigrants, shady and grand,

17. As though your tops touch the clouds’ stand,
You are, in the desert, ewe that feeds many a mouth,

18. Besides another, milking throughout,
You are, in the mansions’ yards, beautiful columns, adorning the wide.

19. Your yields, in taste, are of generosity wide,
And like honey, in each color, craved.