وليلِ دجوجيٍّ كأنَّ صباحَهُ

وليلِ دجوجيٍّ كأنَّ صباحَهُ

يهزُّ لواءً مائساً فوقَ عَطْفهِ

يهزُّ لواءً مائساً فوقَ عَطْفهِ

And a pitch-dark night, whose dawn seemed

A night as though its dawn

to wave a swaying banner above its shoulder.

Raises a dripping banner above its shoulder

تَنزَّه سَمْعي منهُ في صوتِ طائرٍ

تَنزَّه سَمْعي منهُ في صوتِ طائرٍ

شَدا مُشرئبَّ الجيدِ ثانيّ عطْفِهِ

شَدا مُشرئبَّ الجيدِ ثانيّ عطْفِهِ

My ears found diversion from it in a bird’s voice:

My hearing took pleasure in it in the voice of a bird

it sang, its neck outstretched, its side turned.

Drawing up the flowing locks of its cheek a second time

فأطعمت خلاَني كباباً كعَرْفِهِ

فأطعمت خلاَني كباباً كعَرْفِهِ

وعاطيتُ ندماني شراباً كظرفهِ

وعاطيتُ ندماني شراباً كظرفهِ

So I fed my close friends kebab like its crest,

So I made my boon-companions drink deep of the wine-cups

and shared with my drinking companions wine like its grace.

And gave to those I loved a draught like its bucket