كانَ اِخضِرار البَحر صرح مَمرد

وَفيهِ لآلٍ لَم تَشن بِثُقوب

The greenness of the sea was a towering palace

In it pearls that bore no piercings

كانَ سَواد اللَيل في ضوء صُبحه

سَواد شَباب في بَياض مَشيب

The blackness of night in the light of its dawn

Was blackness of youth amidst whiteness of old age