سَرى يَطوي بِنا الأَميالَ طَيّاً

كَما تَطوِ السِجِلَّ أَوِ الإِزارا

It sped through the night, folding the miles beneath us,

Just as one might fold a scroll or a cloak.

فَلَم نَدر وَجُنحُ اللَيلِ داجٍ

أَبَرقاً ما رَكِبنا أَم قِطارا

We knew not—while the wing of night was pitch black—

Whether it was lightning we rode, or a train.

بِنا وَبِهِ حَنين وَاِشتِياقٌ

وَلَولا ذانِ ما سِرنا وَسارا

We and it shared a yearning and a deep longing;

Were it not for these two, neither we nor it would have moved.

وَلَكِنّا وَسِعنا الشَوقَ ذَرعاً

وَضاقَ بِهِ فَصَعَّدَهُ بُخارا

Yet we had the capacity to contain this passion,

While the train could not, venting it upward as steam.

وَسَمَّينا الَّذي يُخفيهِ وَجداً

وَسَمَّينا الَّذي يُخفيهِ نارا

We called the emotion it conceals 'ardor,'

And we named the fire hidden within it the same.

غَفا صَحبي وَبَعضُهُم تَغَفى

وَلَم أَذُقِ الكَرى إِلّا غِرارا

My companions dozed off, some feigning sleep,

But I tasted slumber only as a fleeting glance.

جَلَستُ أُراقِبُ الجَوزاءَ وَحدي

كَما قَد يَرقَبُ الساري المَنارا

I sat alone, watching the stars of Gemini,

As a night traveler watches for a guiding beacon.

يَسيرُ بِنا القِطار وَنَحنُ نَرجو

لَو اِختَصَرَ الطَريقَ بِنا اِختِصارا

The train carries us onward while we hope,

That it might drastically shorten the journey before us.

وَأُقسِمُ لَو أُحَدِّثَهُ بِما بي

لَحَلَّقَ في الفَضاءِ بِنا وَطارا

And I swear, were I to tell it of what lies within me,

It would soar into the heavens with us and take flight.

إِلى البَلَدِ الأَمينِ إِلى كِرامٍ

يُراعونَ المَوَدَّة وَالجِوارا

To the Secure City, to a noble people,

Who honor the bonds of affection and neighborliness.

إِلى المُزدادِ وُدَّهُم لَدَينا

إِذا زِدنا صِفاتُهُمُ اِختِبارا

To those whose love grows ever greater within us,

The more we test and experience their virtues.

إِذا سَتَرَت نَحَبَّتِها قُلوبٌ

فَحُبّي لا أُطيقُ لَهُ اِستِتارا

If other hearts conceal their affection,

I cannot bear to keep my love hidden.

فَيا إِخوانَنا في كُلِّ أَمرٍ

أَصِخوا كَي أُخاطِبَكُم جِهارا

O our brothers in every endeavor,

Lend me your ears, that I may address you openly.

طَوَيناها سَباسِبَ شاسِعاتٍ

تَسيرُ الواخِداتُ بِها حَيارى

We have traversed vast, sprawling wastelands,

Where swift camels would wander in bewilderment.

وَلَولا أَن تَسيرَ بِنا إِلَيكُم

رَكائِبُنا مَشَيناها اِختِيارا

And were it not that our mounts carry us toward you,

We would have chosen to walk the path on foot.

لِنَنقُلَ مِن نويركَ لَكُم تَحايا

تُحاكي في لَطافَتِها العَقارا

To convey to you greetings from New York,

Resembling fine wine in their exquisite delicacy.

وَنَنقُلُ عَنكُمُ أَخبارَ صِدقٍ

تُحاكي النِدَّ في الرَوضِ اِنتِشارا

And to carry back true tidings from you,

Spreading like the scent of incense in a garden.

سَمِعنا بَِلهَزار وَنَحنُ قَومٌ

كَما نَهوى الغِنا نَهوى الهَزارا

We heard the nightingale, and we are a people

Who love the bird just as we love the song.

لَدَيكَُم كَوكَب وَبِنا ظَلامٌ

وَأَنتُمُ تَكرَونَ لَنا العِثارا

You possess a shining star, while darkness dwells in us,

And you are the ones who right our stumbling steps.

جَعَلنا رَسمُهُ في كُلِّ نادٍ

وَصَيَّرنا القُلوبَ لَهُ إِطارا

We have placed his image in every gathering,

And fashioned our own hearts to be its frame.

أَجَل هَذا الَّذي نَبغيهِ مِنكُم

وَنَرجو لا اللُجَين وَلا النُضارا

Indeed, this is what we seek from you,

Desiring neither silver nor gold.

أَتَيناكُم عَلى ظَمَإٍ لِأَنّا

عَرَفنا فيكُمُ السُحبَ الغِزارا

We came to you thirsting, for we

Recognized in you the rain-laden clouds.

وَأَنتُم مَعشَرٌ طابوا نُفوساً

وَأَخلاقاً كَما كَرُموا نِجارا

You are a people of pure souls,

Of fine character, and noble lineage.

بَقَيتُم في سَلام وَاِغتِباطٍ

تُضيءُ وُجوهُكُم هَذي الدِيارا

May you remain in peace and jubilation,

Your faces illuminating these lands.