إِذا البَرقُ مِن شَرقِيِّ دَجلَةَ يَنبَري

عَلى صَفَحاتِ البارِقِ المُتَأَلِّقِ

When lightning cracks from eastern Tigris

Upon the shining pages of the flashes

أُشَبِّهُهُ دَهراً أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلاً

نَعِمنا بِهِ في ظِلِّ فَينانَ مورِقِ

I liken it to a charming time

That blessed us in the shade of burgeoning trees

فَمَرَّ كَرَجعِ الطَرفِ لَيسَ يَرُدُّهُ

حَنينٌ إِلى مَخبورَةِ المُتَعَشِّقِ

Yet it passed like a glance that cannot be recalled

By the yearning of the enamored one

وَقَد يَعرُدُ المَحذورُ مِن حَيثُ يُرتَجى

وَيُمكِنُكَ المَرجُوُّ مِن حَيثُ تَتَّقي

And what is feared may happen from whence it is hoped

And what is hoped may enable you from whence you take precautions