1. They marched, beating the night, and the night had withdrawn,
And the darkness on the horizon knew a shimmering radiance from it,

2. Until we imagined the stars that appeared
With it like jasmine, and the darkness like purple,

3. And what pained me was that a flash flickered,
So I said, my heart fluttering and glowing,

4. And the whiteness of the rain was tinged with redness from it,
Making me remember Salma's mouth split open,

5. The bending of the shoulders without wine
With their glances that make the concealed quiver,

6. Are you she who made your stature bending
And your side swaying and your hips jiggling,

7. And you were angered by the likening to the full moon,
To the marked ostrich feather and the young mountain goat,

8. And a broken heart you made into a ball, and indeed
You dashed upon it the slap of your cheek, angry,

9. So she carried off none but my restless heart,
And bore nothing but my bones in turmoil.