وَصَهوَةِ عَزمٍ قَد تَمَطَّيتُ وَالدُجى

وَصَهوَةِ عَزمٍ قَد تَمَطَّيتُ وَالدُجى

مُكِبُّ كَأَنَّ الصُبحَ في صَدرِهِ سُرُّ

مُكِبُّ كَأَنَّ الصُبحَ في صَدرِهِ سُرُّ

And I had mounted the saddleback of resolve, while darkness

With resolute determination I donned the dark night

bowed low, as though dawn were a secret in its breast.

Bent over as if dawn was hidden in his chest

وَقَد أَلحَفَتني شَملَةُ الظِلِّ شَمأَلٌ

وَقَد أَلحَفَتني شَملَةُ الظِلِّ شَمأَلٌ

يُقَلقِلُ أَحشاءَ الأَراكِ بِها ذُعرُ

يُقَلقِلُ أَحشاءَ الأَراكِ بِها ذُعرُ

And a north wind had cloaked me in a mantle of shadow;

Enveloped by the blackness of shade that startles

through it, terror shook the entrails of the arak trees.

The gazelle, stirring their hearts with fright

وَأَشرَفَ طَمّاحُ الذُؤابَةِ شامِخٌ

وَأَشرَفَ طَمّاحُ الذُؤابَةِ شامِخٌ

تَنَطَّقَ بِالجَوزاءِ لَيلاً لَهُ خَصرُ

تَنَطَّقَ بِالجَوزاءِ لَيلاً لَهُ خَصرُ

And a towering mountain loomed, its crest aspiring high;

The ambitious star peered out towering high

by night, its waist girded itself with Orion.

Speaking to the constellation in the night, slender at the waist

وُقورٌ عَلى مَرِّ اللَيالي كَأَنَّما

وُقورٌ عَلى مَرِّ اللَيالي كَأَنَّما

يُصيخُ إِلى نَجوى وَفي أُذنِهِ وَقرُ

يُصيخُ إِلى نَجوى وَفي أُذنِهِ وَقرُ

Dignified through the passing nights, as though

Dignified as the nights passed as though

it listened intently to whispers, though its ear was deaf.

He whispered intimacies, hearing them in his ear

تَمَهَّدَ مِنهُ كُلُّ رُكنٍ رَكانَةً

تَمَهَّدَ مِنهُ كُلُّ رُكنٍ رَكانَةً

فَقَطَّبَ إِطراقاً وَقَد ضَحِكَ البَدرُ

فَقَطَّبَ إِطراقاً وَقَد ضَحِكَ البَدرُ

Each of its flanks rested in firm composure;

Every corner settled into tranquility

so it frowned with lowered gaze, while the full moon laughed.

Blinking gently as the full moon smiled

وَلاذَ بِهِ نَسرُ السَماءِ كَأَنَّما

وَلاذَ بِهِ نَسرُ السَماءِ كَأَنَّما

يَحِنُّ إِلى وَكرٍ بِهِ ذَلِكَ النَسرُ

يَحِنُّ إِلى وَكرٍ بِهِ ذَلِكَ النَسرُ

And the sky's eagle sought refuge with it, as though

The eagle of the sky took refuge there as though

that eagle yearned for a nest upon it.

Yearning for a nest, did that eagle

فَلَم أَدرِ مِن صَمتٍ لَهُ وَسَكينَةٍ

فَلَم أَدرِ مِن صَمتٍ لَهُ وَسَكينَةٍ

أَكبَرَةُ سِنٍّ وَقَّرَت مِنهُ أَم كِبرُ

أَكبَرَةُ سِنٍّ وَقَّرَت مِنهُ أَم كِبرُ

So, from its silence and stillness, I could not tell

I know not whether from his silence and serenity

whether old age had lent it dignity, or pride.

Old age made him dignified or he dignified old age