وَلَيْلٍ مِثلِ يَوْمِ البَيْنِ طُولا

وَلَيْلٍ مِثلِ يَوْمِ البَيْنِ طُولا

كَواكِبُهُ إِذا أَفَلَتْ تَعُودُ

كَواكِبُهُ إِذا أَفَلَتْ تَعُودُ

And a night as long as the day of parting—

And a night as long as the day of separation

Its stars, whenever they set, return.

Its stars when they set, return

يُدافِعُ نَوْمَها فِيهِ انْتِباهٌ

يُدافِعُ نَوْمَها فِيهِ انْتِباهٌ

فَأَعْيُنُها مُفَتَّحَةٌ رُقُودُ

فَأَعْيُنُها مُفَتَّحَةٌ رُقُودُ

Wakefulness within it keeps their sleep at bay,

Vigilance repels its sleep

So their eyes are open, yet asleep.

So its eyes though closed, are awake