رَفَعَ البَدْرُ عَلينا سُجُفا

رَفَعَ البَدْرُ عَلينا سُجُفا

من طِرازِ اللَّيلِ فيه سَجَفُ

من طِرازِ اللَّيلِ فيه سَجَفُ

The full moon raised veils over us,

The full moon rose over us,

Of night's brocade, within which is a veil.

In the manner of night's embroidery, embroided;

ما عَرفناها نُفوسٌ تَلِفَتْ

ما عَرفناها نُفوسٌ تَلِفَتْ

أمْ عُقولٌ عندهُ تُخْتَطَفُ

أمْ عُقولٌ عندهُ تُخْتَطَفُ

We did not recognize them—were they souls that perished,

We knew not whether it was a troop of spirits

Or minds snatched away in his presence?

Whose thoughts were stolen away,

أمْ زُلَيْخاءُ الهَوى قد أُذْهِلَتْ

أمْ زُلَيْخاءُ الهَوى قد أُذْهِلَتْ

حينَما طَلَّ عليها يوسُفُ

حينَما طَلَّ عليها يوسُفُ

Or love's Zuleikha, who was stunned,

Or the Zulaikhas of passion whose hearts

When Yusuf appeared before her?

Were enslaved when Yusuf shone forth,

مُحِقَتْ وَجداً وذابَتْ لَوْعةً

مُحِقَتْ وَجداً وذابَتْ لَوْعةً

واعْتَراها بعدَ هذا الشَّغَفُ

واعْتَراها بعدَ هذا الشَّغَفُ

She was annihilated by ecstasy and melted with anguish,

Annihilated with ardour, dissolved with longing,

And after this, passion overtook her.

And thereafter ensnared in this infatuation.

أمْ من النَّوَّارِ زَهرٌ فائِحٌ

أمْ من النَّوَّارِ زَهرٌ فائِحٌ

أمْ هو الوردُ الَّذي يُقْتَطَفُ

أمْ هو الوردُ الَّذي يُقْتَطَفُ

Or a fragrant flower among the blossoms?

Is it an effulgent blossom in the darkness,

Or is it the rose that is plucked?

Or is it the rose plucked in the night?

أمْ هي الشَّمسُ تَراءَتْ وعلى

أمْ هي الشَّمسُ تَراءَتْ وعلى

وَلَهٍ في حُبِّها تَنْكَسِفُ

وَلَهٍ في حُبِّها تَنْكَسِفُ

Or is it the sun that appeared, and in

Is it the sun that appeared unveiled to lovers,

Passionate love for her is eclipsed?

And by their love was eclipsed?

أمْ هي الآثارُ قامتْ كُلُّها

أمْ هي الآثارُ قامتْ كُلُّها

ومنَ المَحْبوبِ فيها تُحَفُ

ومنَ المَحْبوبِ فيها تُحَفُ

Or are they the traces, all standing forth,

Is it the traces that remain after all have gone

And within them are gifts from the beloved?

Whereby the beloved is remembered?

عَجَباً واعَجَباً واعَجَباً

عَجَباً واعَجَباً واعَجَباً

هو حَرفٌ فَهْمُهُ مُنْحَرِفُ

هو حَرفٌ فَهْمُهُ مُنْحَرِفُ

Wonder, and wonder, and wonder!

Wonders upon wonders upon wonders!

It is a letter whose interpretation is awry.

A word whose meaning is twisted!

هو ليلٌ ما بهِ من طالِعٍ

هو ليلٌ ما بهِ من طالِعٍ

هو بحرٌ ما لدَيهِ طَرَفُ

هو بحرٌ ما لدَيهِ طَرَفُ

It is a night with no rising star.

A night without daybreak,

It is a sea with no shore.

A sea without shore!

فَخُذوا الحَيْرَةَ لا تَنْقَلِبوا

فَخُذوا الحَيْرَةَ لا تَنْقَلِبوا

أبداً عنها وفيها فَقِفوا

أبداً عنها وفيها فَقِفوا

So embrace bewilderment; do not turn

Take on bewilderment and do not turn away from it,

Ever away from it; and within it, stand.

Linger and do not leave.