1. O night, what can the soul do, that dwelled
In this existence, with destiny as its foe,

2. Content and silent - this is unbearable!
Will it then reject the world and commit suicide?

3. Madness, by my life! All of this is but grief -
Weeping, with sickly thoughts - all in vain.

4. For death is but one of its snares,
From which no being escapes, for all their sight.

5. This is the puzzle, which it obscured and complicated
For creation - a fierce, cautious beast.

6. Destiny bound its harmful horses,
So they cannot resist it, nor take precautions.

7. It blinded their eyes, lest they witness it,
An eye that knows what comes and goes.

8. It surrounded them with its cunning snares,
So they are forever helpless against its grip.

9. Neither death saves them from its terrible onslaught,
Nor does life make people and stone equal.

10. The wretches were confounded and horrified, powerless
To beware it - does wariness avail them?

11. They live in a world built from perils,
A universe, all of it a danger.

12. How can a weary, sightless blind man beware
The horror of darkness, without will or sight?

13. They are certain that nothing can save them,
So they surrendered to the stillness of terror and waited.

14. If only they saw it, armies would march to fight it,
One host after another raging troops.

15. The jinn and angels would rise in anger,
As would the land, the sea, the cosmos and time.

16. But it is a power that imposes its will
In secret - so we obey it by force and acquiesce.

17. A bitter truth, O night, detestable
As death, but to it belong the breast and heart.

18. The night sighed, until I said: scattered
Are those stars, and dead are the jinn and mankind.

19. And it returned to silence, listening somberly
Like a philosopher, pondering the world.

20. The Almighty destiny laughed mockingly
At creatures - O destiny, you laugh!

21. Weeping throngs of creation and forms and images
Walk to inevitable oblivion.

22. While you smile above grief and death,
Gazing at the universe, built up then ruined.