شاب الدجى فتمخَّض الفجرُ
ولد الصباح فكُفّنَ الفجرُ
Night grew gray with age, and dawn went into labor.
Morning was born, and dawn wrapped it in a shroud.
بكت السماءُ فهشَّ مبتسماً
نجمُ الثرى فتغيبِّت زُهرُ
The sky wept, and, smiling with delight,
the earth’s growth rejoiced as the bright stars disappeared.
خطب النهارُ الشمسَ جاد بها
فلكُ السنى فتهيَّأَ المهرُ
Day sought the Sun in marriage; the sphere of radiance
gave her generously, and the dowry was prepared.
فرحت رياضٌ ابرزت حللاً
قد دبَّجتها ديمةٌ بكرُ
The gardens rejoiced, displaying robes
embroidered by a virgin rain-shower.
غنَّت عنادلُ ارقصت طرباً
هيف الخمائل صفَّق النهرُ
Nightingales sang and, out of rapture, set dancing
the slender boughs of the groves; the river applauded.
عَزَفت نسيماتُ الصبا هتفت
وُرق الهديل تصبَّب البِشرُ
The zephyrs played their airs; there cried aloud
the cooing gray doves, while gladness streamed.
حضر الوليمةَ كل ذي مقةٍ
ذكر الحبيبَ فهاجه الذِكرُ
Every lover attended the feast;
he remembered the beloved, and remembrance stirred him.
سكبوا دمَ الابريق في قدحٍ
فبدا على ياقوتهِ درُّ
They poured the pitcher’s blood into a goblet,
and pearls appeared upon its ruby.
لا تعجبوا فكُرات كلّ دم
فيها البياضُ وجلُّها حُمرُ
Do not wonder: the corpuscles of every blood
include white ones and others that are red.
قد راقهم صحوٌ فنادمهم
صفوٌ فطاب لاهلهِ السكرُ
Lucid sobriety charmed them; then they were companioned by
limpid purity, while intoxication pleased its devotees.
قد ازوجوا بالماء سلسلهم
فتولَّد الإطرابُ والهذرُ
They married their flowing wine to water,
and rapture and babble were born.
بزَّ الصب احَ صبوحُهم فقضوا
ساعات انسٍ بزَّها الدهرُ
Their morning draught outshone the morning, and they passed
hours of fellowship that Time snatched away.
فتفرقوا ايدي سبا فمضوا
لشؤونهم مذ اذن الظُهرُ
Then they scattered like the hands of Saba, and went
about their affairs when noon sounded the call.
يا مأتماً لليل قام بهِ
عرسُ النهار وولَدَ الخمرُ
O funeral gathering for Night, conducted by
Day’s wedding—and engendered by wine!
كم فيك للالباب من عبَرٍ
لا وصلَ يبقى لا ولا هجرُ
How many lessons you hold for discerning minds:
neither union endures, nor separation.
ذي سنَّةٌ في الأرض سائدة
بين الخلائق مذ طى البحرُ
Such is a law prevailing upon the earth
among all creatures since the sea was folded up.
