على نهر سل في دجى الليل من رأى

على نهر سل في دجى الليل من رأى

كواكبه زهراً تأمل ام زهرا

كواكبه زهراً تأمل ام زهرا

Beside a river, ask whoever, in the depths of night, has seen

By a river, in the darkness of night, ask whoever has seen

its stars as blossoms: did he gaze on stars—or flowers?

its stars: did he behold blossoms or bright stars?

إذا طلعت فيه النجوم فما ترى

إذا طلعت فيه النجوم فما ترى

به العين الا الثلج مستودعاً جمرا

به العين الا الثلج مستودعاً جمرا

When the stars rise within it, you see

When the stars rise within it, nothing is seen

nothing there but snow harboring embers.

by the eye there but snow with embers lodged within.

ثرى قد اعاد الليل مسكاً عبيره

ثرى قد اعاد الليل مسكاً عبيره

وماء اعاد البدر فضته تبرا

وماء اعاد البدر فضته تبرا

You see that night has made its fragrance musk,

Soil whose fragrance the night has turned to musk,

and that the full moon has turned the water’s silver into gold dust.

and water whose silver the full moon has turned to gold.