مِمسَحَةٌ نَهارها

مِمسَحَةٌ نَهارها

يُجِنُّ لَيلَ الظُلَمِ

يُجِنُّ لَيلَ الظُلَمِ

A pen-wiper—its daylight

conceals the night of darkness;

كَأَنَّها قَد خُلِقَت

كَأَنَّها قَد خُلِقَت

مَنديلَ كَمِّ القَلَمِ

مَنديلَ كَمِّ القَلَمِ

as though it had been fashioned

the handkerchief of the pen’s sleeve.