وَلَيل نَصرت الغَيَّ فيهِ عَلى الرُشد

وَأَعدَيتُ فيهِ الهَزَلَ منّي عَلى الجَد

A night in which I prevailed over frivolity with wisdom,

And I set aside jesting from me for seriousness.

وَضيقّت فيهِ مِن عِناق مُعانِقي

فَظَنَ وشاتي أَنَّني نائم وَحدي

My lover's embrace was narrowed in it,

So my companion thought I was sleeping alone.

إِلى أَن تَجلّى الصُبح مِن خَلَل الدُجى

كَما اِنَخَرَطَ السَيف اليَماني مِن الغمد

Until dawn broke through the darkness

As the Yemeni sword slid out of its scabbard.