أَلِآلٍ أَشرَقَت في نُحورٍ

أَم نُجومٌ أَشرَقَت في لَيالي

Are those pearls shining in throats,

Or stars shining in nights?

أَم فُصولٌ مِن خَواطِرِ مَولىً

ذي مَقامٍ في العُلى وَمَقالِ

Or seasons from the thoughts of a Lord

With a station in the Highest and sayings sublime.

كَم بَنَت بِالفِكرِ بَيتَ مَعانٍ

وَاِنثَنَت بِالذِكرِ بَيتَ مَعالي

How much has thought built a house of meanings

And remembering built a house of glories.

نَفَثُ أَقلامِ خِفافٍ نِحافٍ

كَم أَبادَت مِن خُطوبٍ ثِقالِ

The breath of slender, delicate pens

Destroyed so many grave affairs.

وَقِصارٌ في الأَكُفِّ وَلَكِن

قَصَّرَت فِعلَ الرِماحِ الطَوالِ

Short in grasp, but

Shortened the deeds of long spears.

تَجعَلُ الغُمضَ عَلينا حَراماً

كُلَّما جاءَت بِسِحرٍ حَلالِ

You make closing our eyes forbidden

Whenever you come with lawful magic.

قَيَّدَتني بِالجَميلِ وَلَكِن

أَطلَقَت بِالشُكرِ فيهِ مَقالي

You chained me with beauty, but

Freed me with gratitude therein.

أَمَّنتَني غَيرَ أَنّي عَلَيهِ

خائِفٌ مِن شَرِّ عَينِ الكَمالِ

You gave me security, though over it

I fear the evil of the eye of perfection.

فَاِعفُ مَولايَ مُحِبّاً ثَناهُ

عَن ثَناهُ فيكُمُ شُغلُ بالِ

Excuse, my Lord, a lover whose praise

Of You distracts him from praising You.

ذا هُمومٍ قَلبُهُ في اِشتِغالٍ

وَلَظى أَحزانِهِ في اِشتِعالِ

With worries, his heart busy

And his sorrows aflame.