رب ليلٍ تراه كالدهر طولاً

رب ليلٍ تراه كالدهر طولاً

قد تناهى فليس فيه مزيدُ

قد تناهى فليس فيه مزيدُ

Many a night you see as long as eternity,

O Lord of a night that seems as long as time!

It has reached its utmost length; there is no room for more,

It has drawn itself out, with no more to give.

ذي نجومٍ كأنهنَّ نجومُ ال

ذي نجومٍ كأنهنَّ نجومُ ال

شيب ليست تغور لا بل تزيدُ

شيب ليست تغور لا بل تزيدُ

With stars that seem like the stars of

With stars like white hairs of age, that do not sink

Gray hair: they do not set—no, rather, they increase.

Or set, but twinkle on, and grow, and live.