1. I came, and Egypt was in darkness,
Lonely as you know.

2. And those returning at dusk
To the Diwan were not many.

3. So I saw only the faces
Of the virtuous elite.

4. They had stayed up as they rose early,
Without fatigue or remiss.

5. Among them, first was Sam,
And second, my Fikri.

6. They both handle binding and loosing,
Commanding and forbidding,

7. They both handle sufficient oversight
Of the country’s needs.

8. The people sleep while
The caretakers of righteousness stay up.

9. So after a hasty greeting,
And prefacing with an excuse,

10. I sat while you were busy
With some matter, whatever it was.

11. You kept moving a pen
That flowed on its paper.

12. And the cigarette quivered between
Your fingers and lips.

13. So it produced a smoke that climbed
Dispersing as it rose.

14. The fixed lights within it
Seemed to be stars drifting.

15. I watched the smoke billowing
With its surges and ebbs,

16. With its fragrant whisps
Like spells of sorcery.

17. I glanced at it a moment, inclining
Toward it with a settled gaze.

18. So it showed me the place of genesis
And destiny in thought.

19. And it depicted in gestures
The stirrings of emotions in the breast,

20. As if I saw your state
Between line and line,

21. Where speech comes easily
And where speech comes with difficulty,

22. Where, when inspiration awakens,
You find help in recollection.

23. And where you deal with two opinions,
Of a servant and a freeman.

24. So I was amazed by the smoke and what
It had revealed to me of secrets,

25. As if your cloud from it had lifted
A diaphanous veil.

26. It showed me the truth of what they said
Of knowledge and experience.