وَلَيْلَةِ أُنْسٍ قَصَّرَ اللَّهْوُ طُولَها

بِعَذْرَاءَ شَابَتْ وَهْيَ دُونَ حِجَابِ

A night of intimacy which Allah shortened despite its length

With a maiden who was unveiled without a veil

صَدَعْنَا بِهَا الظَّلْمَاءَ حَتَّى تَبَلَّجَتْ

ضَبَابَتُهَا مِنْ ضَوْئِهَا بِشِهَابِ

We illuminated the darkness with her until it gleamed

Its mist dissipated from her radiance like a shooting star

مُعَتَّقَةٍ كَانَتْ ذَخِيرَةَ مَعْشَرٍ

لأَبْنَائِهِمْ فِي جَوْفِ أَقْتَمَ كَابِي

She was a treasure kept for their sons

In the belly of the darkest tomb

أَتَتْ دُونَها الأَيَّامُ حَتَّى تَخَلَّصَتْ

فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنها الْيَومَ غَيْرُ لُبَابِ

The days passed her by until she was freed

And today, nothing remains of her but her essence

إِذَا اتَّقَدَتْ في الْكَأْسِ خِلْتَ مُدِيرَها

تَخَضَّبَ مِنْهَا كَفُّهُ بِخِضَابِ

When she ignites in the chalice, the turbulence stirs her

Dyeing the palm of the drinker with henna

كَأَنَّ سَنَا الْكاساتِ والنَّدُّ سَاطِعٌ

نُجُومٌ تَراءَتْ مِنْ خِلالِ ضَبابِ

As if the cups’ handle and the wine’s sparkle

Are stars seen through the mist’s veil

فَيَا حُسْنَها مِنْ لَيْلَةٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّها

تَوَلَّتْ ولَمْ نَشْعُرْ لَها بِذَهابِ

Oh, the beauty of a night that is no more

It has turned, and we did not feel its departure

وَقَدْ لاحَ بِالظَّلْماءِ فَجْرٌ كَأَنَّهُ

بَياضُ مَشِيبٍ فِي سَوَادِ شَبابِ

And dawn has shone in the darkness as if

It is the whiteness of old age amidst youth’s darkness