عَلامَ تَرى لَيلى تُعَذِّبُ بِالمُنى

أَخا قَفرَةٍ قَد كادَ بِالغولِ يانَسُ

Why does Layla torment with longing

A brother in desolation, almost befriended by ghosts

وَأَضحى صَديق الذِّئبِ بَعدَ عَداوَةٍ

وَبُغضٍ وَرَبَّتهُ القِفارُ البَسابِسُ

Who became a friend of wolves after enmity

And hatred, and was raised by barren wastelands

تَقَدَّدَ عَنهُ وَاِستَطارَ قَميصُهُ

وَقَد يَقطَعُ الهِندِيُّ وَالجَفنُ دارِسُ

He kept away from her and his shirt became too short

And the Indian’s blade can cut while the eyelids sleep

يَظَلُّ وَما يَبدو لِشَيءٍ نَهارَهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُما يَنباعُ وَاللَّيلُ دامِسُ

He stays in darkness and nothing of his day appears

But they bark at night when it is pitch black

فَلَيسَ بِجنِيّ فَيُعرَفُ شَكلُهُ

وَلا أَنسيٍّ تَحتَويهِ المَجالِسُ

He is no demon to recognize his form

Nor human to contain him in gatherings