عافit shunned النهارthe day مخافةfor fear of الرقباءthe watchers
عاف النهار مخافة الرقباء
فسرىso it traveled by night يضمّخit perfumes حلةthe robe of الظلماءthe darkness
فسرى يضمّخ حلة الظلماء
It shunned the day for fear of the watchers;
He shunned daylight, fearing prying eyes,
so it traveled by night, perfuming the robe of darkness.
So he walked, cloaking himself in darkness's guise.
يطويit folds away شذاهits fragrance عنfrom الأنوفthe noses نهارهthroughout its day
يطوي شذاه عن الأنوف نهاره
ويجودand it gives generously فيin الظلماءthe darkness بالإفشاءby revealing
ويجود في الظلماء بالإفشاء
It folds its fragrance away from noses throughout its day,
His radiance from people's noses he hid during day,
and lavishly reveals it in the darkness.
Yet in darkness he shone, broadcasting his rays.
متهتكwanton فيin طبعهits nature متسترveiling itself
متهتك في طبعه متستر
وكذاand thus تكونare شمائلthe traits of الظرفاءthe refined
وكذا تكون شمائل الظرفاء
Wanton by nature, yet veiling itself—
By nature he was shameless, though also discrete,
and such are the traits of the refined.
Such are the ways of clever men, fleet.
لماwhen رأىit saw حبthe love of الأنوفthe noses لعزفهfor its music-making
لما رأى حب الأنوف لعزفه
لبسit donned الغياهبthe deep darkness خيفةfor fear of الرقباءthe watchers
لبس الغياهب خيفة الرقباء
When it saw the noses' love for its music,
When he saw noses' love for his music,
it donned the deep darkness for fear of the watchers.
He wore darkness, fearing prying eyes.
كالطيفlike a phantom لاnot يصلit reaches الجفونthe eyelids لسهدهاbecause of their sleeplessness
كالطيف لا يصل الجفون لسهدها
ويهبand it wafts فيهاwithin them ساعةat the moment of الإغفاءfalling asleep
ويهب فيها ساعة الإغفاء
Like a phantom, it does not reach eyelids, for they are wakeful,
Like a phantom that evades waking eyes,
and wafts within them at the moment of falling asleep.
Visiting them only in slumber's time.
Sol 6.1