ذات تراأى النور من صفِّها

ذات تراأى النور من صفِّها

وقد تجلى النشر من لفِّها

وقد تجلى النشر من لفِّها

An essence from whose array the light appeared,

She saw the light in its rows

And unfolding became manifest from her enfolding.

And the blossoms shone through its folds

وكلما غنت على دفها

وكلما غنت على دفها

روَّعها البرقُ وفي كفِّها

روَّعها البرقُ وفي كفِّها

And whenever she sang to her tambourine,

And whenever she sang to her tambourine

Lightning frightened her, while in her palm

The lightning startled her, though in her palm

برقٌ من القهوة لمَّاعُ

برقٌ من القهوة لمَّاعُ

بها من الأكوان دارت رحى

بها من الأكوان دارت رحى

Was a gleaming flash of wine.

A lightning of coffee, glittering

Through her, a millstone of the created worlds turned.

Around it the spheres revolved

وخمرها شاربها ما صحا

وخمرها شاربها ما صحا

وسرها غيب الهدى أوضحا

وسرها غيب الهدى أوضحا

And her wine—its drinker never sobered.

And its wine—he who drank it did not sober

And her secret made plain the mystery of guidance.

And its secret made clearer the hidden true path

عجبت منها وهي شمس الضحى

عجبت منها وهي شمس الضحى

كيف من الأنوار ترتاعُ

كيف من الأنوار ترتاعُ

I marveled at her, though she is the midmorning sun:

I marveled at her, she the morning sun

How can she take fright at the lights?

How could she shy from the lights?