أَلا هَل عَلى اللَيلِ الطَويلِ مُعينُ

إِذا بَعُدَت دارٌ وَشَطَّ قَرينُ

Is there any aid against the long night,

When the dwelling is distant and the companion far removed?

تَطاوَلَ هَذا اللَيلُ حَتّى كَأَنَّما

عَلى نِجمِهِ أَلّا يَعودَ يَمينُ

This night has stretched out until it seems as though

Its star has sworn an oath never to return.

كَفى حَزَناً أَنّي بِفُسطاطَ نازِحٌ

وَلي نَحوَ أَكنافِ العِراقِ حَنينُ

It suffices for grief that I am a displaced stranger in Fustat,

With a yearning toward the environs of Iraq.