أَرقى لِبَرق لائح في جوِّهِ

أَرقى لِبَرق لائح في جوِّهِ

لألاؤه كمهندات تَلمَع

لألاؤه كمهندات تَلمَع

I lie awake at lightning flashing in its sky;

I rise to lightning flashing in its atmosphere,

its radiance is like gleaming Indian-forged swords.

Its gems like flickering lanterns glimmer and shine,

وَاللَيل قَد حَجَب الصَباح كَأَنَّهُ

وَاللَيل قَد حَجَب الصَباح كَأَنَّهُ

مُتَرهِّبٌ بِمسوحه مُتَدَرع

مُتَرهِّبٌ بِمسوحه مُتَدَرع

And night has veiled the morning, as though it were

And night has veiled the dawn as if

a monk armored in his sackcloth robes.

Crouching with its darkness armed and armored,

وَتَرى الثُرَيا مثل كَفّ خَريدة

وَتَرى الثُرَيا مثل كَفّ خَريدة

تومي بِها أَو عَقرَب تَتَسمع

تومي بِها أَو عَقرَب تَتَسمع

And you see the Pleiades like a maiden's hand,

You see the Pleiades like the palm of a bride

with which she beckons, or a scorpion listening intently.

Waving it or a scorpion listening intently,

وَكَأَنَّ ثَوب الجَو صَرح لائح

وَكَأَنَّ ثَوب الجَو صَرح لائح

وَنُجومِهِ دُرٌّ عَلَيهِ تَرصع

وَنُجومِهِ دُرٌّ عَلَيهِ تَرصع

And the sky's robe seems a gleaming palace,

As if the sky's gown is a glittering palace

and its stars are pearls set upon it;

With its stars pearls upon it embroidered,

أَو كَالدَراهم فَوقَ أَرض بَنَفسج

أَو كَالدَراهم فَوقَ أَرض بَنَفسج

أَو نَرجس مِن سَوسَنٍ يَتَطَلع

أَو نَرجس مِن سَوسَنٍ يَتَطَلع

or like silver coins upon a field of violets,

Or like coins over a field of violet,

or narcissi peering out from irises.

Or narcissi of lilies looking out.