أَشفارُها أَم صارِمُ الحَجّاجِ

أَشفارُها أَم صارِمُ الحَجّاجِ

وَجُفونُها أَم فِتنَةُ الحَّلاجِ

وَجُفونُها أَم فِتنَةُ الحَّلاجِ

Are these her lashes, or al-Hajjaj's sharp sword?

Her eyelashes, are they swords of warriors fierce

And her eyelids, or al-Hallaj's ordeal?

Or veils of mystics casting spells so fierce

وَإِذا نَظَرتَ لأَرضِها وَسَمائِها

وَإِذا نَظَرتَ لأَرضِها وَسَمائِها

لَم تُلفِ غَيرَ أَسِنَّةٍ وَزِجاجِ

لَم تُلفِ غَيرَ أَسِنَّةٍ وَزِجاجِ

And if you look at her earth and her sky,

When gazing upon her land and skies so fair

You will find nothing but spearheads and spear-butt spikes.

Naught but sharp blades and fragile glass appear