1. ولم أشكُ طولَ الليلِ حتَّى رأيتني

    أقلِّبُ طرفاً يَرقُبُ النجمَ باكيا

    I did not complain of the night's length until I saw myself

    Turning an eye that watched the star, weeping;

  2. وإنسانُ عيني أنحلَ الدَّمعُ جسمَهُ

    خَميصَ الحشا من لذّةِ النَّومِ طاوِيا

    And the pupil of my eye—tears had wasted its body—

    Hollow-bellied, fasting from the pleasure of sleep;

  3. وَقلباً أبى إلا التذكُّرَ فارتوَى

    بسلوانهِ شَوقٌ وأصبحَ صادِيا

    And a heart that refused all but remembrance; longing drank its fill

    Of its solace, while the heart grew thirsty.

  4. أناخَ إليهِ الهَمُّ فاعتاضَ زَفرةً

    من الشَّوقِ لا تبلى وإن كان باكيا

    Sorrow encamped beside it, and it took in exchange a sigh

    Of longing that never wears away, though it was weeping.