خطَّ السَّنا ذَهَبا في اللَّازوَرْدِيِّ

فالأُفقُ ما بَيْنَ مَرْقُومٍ ومَوْشيِّ

The snā traced gold in the lapis lazuli;

So the horizon lies between inscribed and effaced.

كأنَّما الشُّهْبُ والإصْباحُ يَنْهَبُها

دَراهمٌ سَقَطَتْ مِنْ كفِّ زَنجيِّ

As though the shooting stars and dawn's light plundered it -

Silver coins spilled from a negro's hand.