وَلَيْلٍ كَيَوْمِ البَيْنِ في مِثْلِ طُولِهِ

كَبَسْطَةِ كَفِّي إِذْ حَوتْ قَائِمَ النَّصْلِ

A night that stretched as long as days of separation

As my palm when it grasped the upright spear

جَلَوْتُ بِهِ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ كلَّ عَارِضٍ

بأَبْيَضَ مِثْلِ البَدْرِ في السِنِّ والشَّكلِ

With it I warded off from his face all misfortunes

With a white like the full moon in appearance and shape

كأَنَّ المَنايا كُمَّنٌ في لِحاظِهِ

فَهُنَّ إِلى قَبْضِ النُّفوسِ مِنَ الرُّسْلِ

As if death were archers in wait for him

Whose task is to seize souls at their appointed time