فلأَشْكُرَنَّ لِدَيْرِ مَتَّى لَيْلَةً

مَزَّقَتْ ظُلْمَتَها بِبَدْرٍ مُشْرِقِ

I thank the monastery of Matthew one night

When its darkness was ripped by a shining full moon.

بِتْنا نُوَفّي اللَّهْوَ فيها حَقَّهُ

بِالرّاحِ والوَتَرِ الفَصيحِ المَنْطِقِ

We fulfilled our desire for amusement in it

With the flute, the lute, and eloquent chanting.

والجَوُّ يَسْحَبُ مِنْ عَليلِ هَوائِهِ

ثَوْباً يَرشُّ بِطَلِّهِ المُتَرَقْرِقِ

The air drew from its ailing breath

A robe sprinkling its humidity.

حتّى رَأَيْنا اللَّيْلَ قَوَّسَ ظَهْرَهُ

هَرَمٌ وأَثَّرَ فيهِ شَيْبُ المَفْرِقِ

Until we saw the night arch its back

An old man marked by the white of parting.

وكَأَنَّ ضَوْءَ الفَجْرِ في باقي الدُّجى

سَيْفٌ حَلاهُ من اللُّجَيْنِ المُحْرَقِ

As if the light of dawn in the remaining gloom

Was a sword forged of piercing sparks.

يا طيبَها من لَيْلَةٍ لو لم تَكُنْ

قَصُرَتْ فَريعَ تَجَمُّعٌ بِتَفَرُّقِ

Oh, blessed night, if you had not

Been cut short, a gathering ended in scattering.