لَيلٍ كَفَرعِ الخودِ تَخلُفُهُ ضُحىً

لَيلٍ كَفَرعِ الخودِ تَخلُفُهُ ضُحىً

زَهراءُ مِثلَ عَوارِضٍ زَهراءِ

زَهراءُ مِثلَ عَوارِضٍ زَهراءِ

A night like a maiden’s tresses, followed by a morning

radiant as the side teeth of a radiant beauty.

عَبِقَت بِأَنفاسِ الرِياضِ كَأَنَّما

عَبِقَت بِأَنفاسِ الرِياضِ كَأَنَّما

نَفَضَ الرَقيبُ غُلالَةَ الدَلتاءِ

نَفَضَ الرَقيبُ غُلالَةَ الدَلتاءِ

It was fragrant with the gardens’ breath, as though

the sentinel had shaken out al-Dahnāʾ’s gauzy robe.