أَلغَزتَ في شَيءٍ يَنمـ

ـمُ سِواهُ عَنهُ بِسِرِّهِ

You puzzled over something whose essence

Distracts him from it with its secret.

جَمَعَ الدُجى وَالصُبح بَيـ

ـنَ ضُلوعِهِ في صَدرِهِ

It gathered nightfall and dawn between

Its ribs in its chest,

وَمُجَلَّدٌ بِالعَظمِ يَظـ

ـهَرُ مِنهُ خافي أَمرِهِ

And armored with bone, it shows

From it what's hidden of its matter.

وَإِذا عَكَستَ حُروفَهُ

شَرُفَ الحُسامُ بِذِكرِهِ

And if you invert its letters

Noble swords are honored by mentioning it.

وَلَقَد جَعَلتَ هِلالَهُ

وَهوَ الخَفِيُّ كَبَدرِهِ

You've made its crescent,

While it's hidden, like its full moon.