1. A rectangle on the gray sands at dawn
With youths skilled at pouring the morning draught
١. وَمُستَطيلٍ عَلى الصَهباءِ باكِرَها
بِفِتيَةٍ بِاصطِباحِ الراحِ حُذّاقِ
2. Each palm that saw it thought it was a cup
Each person who saw them thought them the pourer
٢. فَكُلُّ كَفٍّ رَآها ظَنَّها قَدَحاً
وَكُلُّ شَخصٍ رَآهُ ظَنَّهُ الساقي
3. Until they sensed it, and no sooner sensed
Than dead he fell, a corpse with no awakening
٣. حَتّى حَساها فَلَم يَلبَث وَما لَبَثَت
أَن خَرَّ مَيتاً صَريعاً ما لَهُ راقِ