1. O night, how long will passion last in one whose reason is lost?
Respond to the longing lover, give solace to his anguished heart!

2. Do you forget our meeting while you are sad,
Your head bent with grief and weariness?

3. I say though comfort rests in my hands like
A weary child resting its head on a cradle,

4. Come to an expansive, helping breast,
My love, a pillar of passion, ever erect!

5. By my soul this verse and the tresses that
Cascaded over an ivory neck,

6. Swaying as they wished, following their passion,
Inclining on a cheek, flowing from another,

7. And those vines, humbly offering a picker
The whiteness of hopes from their clustered grapes -

8. What darkness dear to me you have,
Wherein the rooms glisten like times of comfort!

9. Behold, all beauty in the wilderness serves
The sultana of eyes, cheek, and stature.

10. And all loveliness in existence cowers before her,
The lament of the lovestruck, the mercy of slaves.

11. My heart startled by you is but a butterfly
Of tears hovering over a meadow of roses,

12. Wing-shaped from light and dew,
Flying over gardens, swooping onto roses.

13. In it is my likeness, O my love and master,
Of killing longing and maddening thirst.

14. The shrine has been emptied of its prayers;
No wakeful poet remains after me.

15. We stopped though the stars inclined - what stance
Can we try wherein patience profits not?

16. Spectral horrors and separation threaten,
Crowded pains and ardour throng together,

17. Fiery breaths and tightness squat,
Whispers intertwine, hands embrace.

18. Silent processions in an eternal hell
With no hope of peace or coolness.

19. O consoler, extend from its shadows
A spring over my heart, a joyous meadow!

20. I tightened but for the puzzling spectre of love
On the verge of gloomy, blackened stairs,

21. Lingering, hesitating for a promise and covenant,
Then slinking off, choked with promises,

22. And leaving me to the night like a cold grave
Blowing its tomb-breath into my face,

23. Leaving me to the universe like a beast asleep
Whose fangs shred me in the darkness, alone,

24. As if above Egypt hangs a suspended gloom
At the rear of veiled destinies, chilled,

25. Stagnant, ambiguous, silent, desolate,
Enveloped by the unfathomed obscurity.

26. Is this lush spring and paradise where
I almost inhaled the scent of eternity,

27. When darkness falls and envelops it
In wings of dreams and unbroken silence,

28. A tavern of wine and peddler
Of miserable hopes bartering livelihood for toil?

29. The lamp halted like a guarding witness
Alert to secrets, inviting seriousness -

30. As if a pious man sunk in worship
Fasting darkness or spending the night in asceticism,

31. O guardian of morals in the living, asleep,
His day spent in the worry of poverty begging,

32. His pillows stones, his bed the soil,
Spreading his cloak in heat and cold,

33. And the car passes for a veiled purpose,
Curtained, unknown aim,

34. Plundering the darkness, flashing like
Lightning winking from afar,

35. When will this gloom lift from the paths
Burdened with hunger, patience and toil?

36. A dog scavenges in the rubble; perhaps
A shepherd kept vigil and the guard slept.

37. O Egypt, your evenings have no companion,
No listener for your unique poet.

38. Have you deserted me? Prolonged estrangement -
Pity one whose necklace you scattered!

39. Losing you is losing spring and its scent,
Returning to fatigue, illness and passion.

40. She I lost in you is no small thing,
Nor when absent are you lightly missed!

41. I seek guidance in your eyes - how could you leave me
In this encroaching, grim darkness to seek guidance?

42. From your roses I seek water - how could you leave me
To these barren, silent, rugged wastes?

43. By your love I seek healing - how could you leave me
When only bone, spirit and skin remain?

44. These red snakes dance in my blood
While the white snakes flaunt in my veins,

45. If I complained you lightened my burden,
So the trials of life seemed simple effort,

46. If the edifice collapsed you erected it,
So days had no power over me,

47. If I called you answered my scream,
Alas, between us now what barriers stand!

48. Peace on your eyes - what have they borne
Of kindness, tenderness, compassion and affection?

49. If in your glances is a sword and death
It is you who grants life and you who destroys!

50. If they unsheathe, it is no misstep;
And if they sheathe, deadlier is the sheathed blade!

51. Congratulations to my heart on what you have wrought,
Welcome and greetings if your killing was intended!

52. For when darkness falls and your love finds me
I show what I never showed.

53. Bowing my head, sad or consoling,
I have of longings and passion what I have.

54. You dwell in my heart in a place you settled,
A wound I confide in, both near and far,

55. And O house of my love, greetings
To the noblest memories, the most virtuous covenants!

56. To the enchanting evenings and the circle
Of passionate love, pure of purpose,

57. Where we sat, youth who for glory
Walked on blood and thorns.

58. Tears that soften rock - when they passed
They carved their names on unyielding stone.

59. What matter if they wept or suffered?
The tears of torment are the price of glory!