رأيته والمرآة في يده

رأيته والمرآة في يده

كأنها شمسة على ملكِ

كأنها شمسة على ملكِ

I saw him with the mirror in his hand,

I saw him with a mirror in his hand

As though it were a sun-disc above a king.

Like a sunbeam on a king

فقلت للصورة التي احتجبت

فقلت للصورة التي احتجبت

من غير زهد فينا ولا نسك

من غير زهد فينا ولا نسك

So I said to the image that had veiled itself,

So I said to the image that was veiled

Not out of indifference toward us, nor ascetic devotion:

Without any asceticism or devotion from us

يا أشبه الناس بالحبوب ألا

يا أشبه الناس بالحبوب ألا

تخبرنا عنك غير مؤتفك

تخبرنا عنك غير مؤتفك

“O you, of all people most like the beloved, will you not

O most beloved of people

Tell us about yourself, without lying?”

Won't you tell us about yourself other than your cover?

قال أنا البدر زرت بدركم

قال أنا البدر زرت بدركم

وهذه قطعة من الفلك

وهذه قطعة من الفلك

He said, “I am the full moon; I have visited your full moon,

He said, I am the full moon that visited your full moon

And this is a piece of the celestial sphere.”

And this is a piece of the cosmos

قلت فإني أرى بها صدأ

قلت فإني أرى بها صدأ

فقال هذه بقية الحبك

فقال هذه بقية الحبك

I said, “But I see rust on it.”

I said, then I see rust on it

Then he said, “This is what remains of the sky’s tracery.”

So he said, this is the remainder of love