كأن جفنيه سقطا نافرٍ فزعٍ

إذا أراد سقوطاً ريع أو زيدا

As though his eyelids fell, startled and scared,

Whenever he wanted to fall back asleep.

ظن الدجى قطة الأظفار كاسرةً

والصبح نسراً فما ينفك مزؤدا

He thought the darkness was a cat with sharp claws

And the dawn an eagle, so he couldn't rest again.