كَأَن القَلبَ لَيلَة قَبل يُغدي

بِلَيلى العامِرِيَّه أَو يُراح

As if the heart the night before were to spend

The night in populated Leila or take rest,

قطاة عَزَّها شرك فَباتَت

تجاذِبُه وَقَد عَلق الجَناح

A wild cat whose company fate forbade

Clung to it, though its wings were still unspread,

لَها فَرخان قَد تَرَكا بوكر

فَعشهُما تصفِّقه الرِياح

It had two fledglings, whom at dawn it left

In a nest which the winds began to buffet,

إِذا سَمعا هُبوب الريحِ نصا

وَقد اودى بِهِ القَدر المُتاح

Whenever they heard the winds begin to blow

And fate had not allowed what they wished to know,

فَلا في اللَيلِ نالَت ما ترجّي

وَلا في الصُبحِ كانَ لَها بَراح

So neither in the night attained what they sought

Nor in the morn enjoyed any rest brought