على نهر سل في دجى الليل من رأى

على نهر سل في دجى الليل من رأى

كواكبه زهراً تأمل ام زهرا

كواكبه زهراً تأمل ام زهرا

On the River Sall, in the darkness of night, whoever beheld

Ask whoever saw, upon a river in the dark of night,

its stars as blossoms wondered: had he merely gazed, or had it flowered?

its stars: did he behold blossoms or shining stars?

إذا طلعت فيه النجوم فما ترى

إذا طلعت فيه النجوم فما ترى

به العين الا الثلج مستودعاً جمرا

به العين الا الثلج مستودعاً جمرا

When the stars rise within it, the eye sees

When the stars rise within it, nothing is seen

there nothing but snow with embers stored inside.

by the eye there but snow harboring embers.

ثرى قد اعاد الليل مسكاً عبيره

ثرى قد اعاد الليل مسكاً عبيره

وماء اعاد البدر فضته تبرا

وماء اعاد البدر فضته تبرا

You see that night has turned its pool into musk,

Earth whose fragrance the night has turned to musk,

and water whose silver the full moon has turned to gold dust.

and water whose silver the full moon has turned to gold.