جرى في عودِه ماءُ الشبابِ

وأسكرهُ الصِّبا قبل التّصابي

The water of youth coursed through his bough,

and the east wind made him drunk before he ever played at youth.

ويخطُر كالقضيبِ اهتزّ رِيّا

وجُرّ عليه ذيلٌ من سَحابِ

He sways like a slender branch, trembling and lush,

while over him is drawn a trailing hem of cloud.

هتفْتُ به وبُرْدُ الليلِ بالٍ

ونجمُ الصُبحِ ورديُّ النِّقابِ

I called to him as night’s cloak wore thin,

and the morning star was rose-veiled.

ومرّ بنا النسيمُ فرقّ حتى

كأني قد شكوْتُ إليه ما بي

The breeze passed by us and grew so tender that

I thought I had confided to it all that ailed me.

ولفّ الليلُ شملتَهُ بحاءٍ

وبلّ الصُبْحُ أذيالَ الرّوابي

And night folded its mantle into a ḥāʾ,

and dawn bedewed the skirts of the hills.