مِمسَحَةٌ نَهارها

مِمسَحَةٌ نَهارها

يُجِنُّ لَيلَ الظُلَمِ

يُجِنُّ لَيلَ الظُلَمِ

A pen-wiper—its daylight

A wiping cloth—its daylight

conceals the night of darkness;

shrouds the night of darkness,

كَأَنَّها قَد خُلِقَت

كَأَنَّها قَد خُلِقَت

مَنديلَ كَمِّ القَلَمِ

مَنديلَ كَمِّ القَلَمِ

as though it had been fashioned

as though it had been created

the handkerchief of the pen’s sleeve.

as a handkerchief for the pen’s sleeve.