1. وهَتَكْنَ ثِنْيَ الليل عن

    بيض السَّوالفِ والصّفاحِ

    And they tore back the fold of night to reveal

    White necks and cheeks.

  2. فكأنما ضَحِكتْ سجو

    ف الليل عن بَيْضِ الأداحي

    So it was as though there smiled the cur-

    tains of night, revealing eggs in ostrich nests.

  3. فَضحِكْنَ في وجه الدّجَى

    وَبَكَيْنَ في وجه الصَّباحِ

    So they smiled in the face of darkness

    And wept in the face of dawn.