علىupon نهرa river سلask فيin دجىthe darkness of الليلthe night منwhoever رأىsaw
على نهر سل في دجى الليل من رأى
كواكبهits stars زهراًblossoms تأملhe beheld امor زهراshining stars
كواكبه زهراً تأمل ام زهرا
On the River Sall, in the darkness of night, whoever beheld
Ask whoever saw, upon a river in the dark of night,
its stars as blossoms wondered: had he merely gazed, or had it flowered?
its stars: did he behold blossoms or shining stars?
إذاwhen طلعتrose فيهwithin it النجومthe stars فماso not ترىsees
إذا طلعت فيه النجوم فما ترى
بهin it العينthe eye الاexcept الثلجsnow مستودعاًholding within it جمراglowing embers
به العين الا الثلج مستودعاً جمرا
When the stars rise within it, the eye sees
When the stars rise within it, nothing is seen
there nothing but snow with embers stored inside.
by the eye there but snow harboring embers.
ثرىearth قدhas indeed اعادturned الليلthe night مسكاًinto musk عبيرهits fragrance
ثرى قد اعاد الليل مسكاً عبيره
وماءand water اعادturned البدرthe full moon فضتهits silver تبراinto unworked gold
وماء اعاد البدر فضته تبرا
You see that night has turned its pool into musk,
Earth whose fragrance the night has turned to musk,
and water whose silver the full moon has turned to gold dust.
and water whose silver the full moon has turned to gold.
