وَمخطوطِ السَوادِ كَأَنَّ دَمعاً

وَمخطوطِ السَوادِ كَأَنَّ دَمعاً

جَرى وَدَماً هُناكَ عَلى حِدادِ

جَرى وَدَماً هُناكَ عَلى حِدادِ

And one streaked with black, as though tears

The manuscript of darkness is as if

and blood had flowed there upon mourning garb.

A tear flowed, and blood there upon sorrow.

إِذا اِلتَبسَت وُجوهُ الحُكمِ يَوماً

إِذا اِلتَبسَت وُجوهُ الحُكمِ يَوماً

قَضى فَمَضى عَلى نَهجِ السَدادِ

قَضى فَمَضى عَلى نَهجِ السَدادِ

If one day the facets of judgment grow unclear,

If the faces of rulers one day intermix,

it rules, then proceeds along the path of rectitude.

Judging and passing away on the path of integrity.

فَأَيُّ بَياضِ نُعمى لَيسَ يُعزى

فَأَيُّ بَياضِ نُعمى لَيسَ يُعزى

لَمُشتَمِلٍ بِسِربالِ السَوادِ

لَمُشتَمِلٍ بِسِربالِ السَوادِ

So what brightness of bounty is not ascribed

What brightness of bliss is not owed

to one wrapped in a robe of black?

To one clad in the gown of darkness?

تَلَوّى فَاِلتَمَحتُ بِهِ ضَميراً

تَلَوّى فَاِلتَمَحتُ بِهِ ضَميراً

دَخيلَ السِرِّ مَمذوقَ الوِدادِ

دَخيلَ السِرِّ مَمذوقَ الوِدادِ

It twisted, and I glimpsed in it a hidden heart,

It twisted, so I glanced at it, a conscience

privy to secrets, its affection watered down.

Of intimate mystery, tasted kindness.

يُجيبُ وَما سَأَلتُ لَهُ مُجيباً

يُجيبُ وَما سَأَلتُ لَهُ مُجيباً

فَيا عَجَباً لِإِفصاحِ الجَمادِ

فَيا عَجَباً لِإِفصاحِ الجَمادِ

It answers, though I sought no one to answer for it;

It answers me though I did not ask it to respond.

so wondrous is the eloquence of the inanimate!

Oh, the wonder of the eloquence of inanimates!