أَصبَحتُ في الدهر كالمَعقولِ مختَفياً

أَصبَحتُ في الدهر كالمَعقولِ مختَفياً

عَن العيونِ وَما تَخفى مَفاهِمُهُ

عَن العيونِ وَما تَخفى مَفاهِمُهُ

I have become in this world like an abstract concept, hidden

I became obscure in time like the abstract

From eyes, though its meanings are not hidden.

Hidden from eyes and minds cannot grasp me

كَأَنَّما السِحرُ صدري في تضمُّنهِ

كَأَنَّما السِحرُ صدري في تضمُّنهِ

شَخصي وَشخصي سرى فَهوَ كاتِمُه

شَخصي وَشخصي سرى فَهوَ كاتِمُه

As though sorcery were my breast, enclosing

As if magic has concealed me in its spells

My person, and my person my secret, which it conceals.

My persona and my secret self it hides

كَأَنَّما الدَهرُ يَخشى منه لي فَرجاً

كَأَنَّما الدَهرُ يَخشى منه لي فَرجاً

فَمِن قيودي عَلى البَلوى تمائمهُ

فَمِن قيودي عَلى البَلوى تمائمهُ

As though Time feared that relief might come to me from it,

As if time fears it may give me relief

So its amulets against affliction are made from my fetters.

So from my shackles it weaves talismans of woe