1. تنبَّهَت بيَ طولَ الليلِ ناحِلَةٌ

    صفراءُ أفنَى قُواهَا الدمعُ والأرقُ

    A slender one kept vigil with me all night,

    Yellow, her strength drained by tears and sleeplessness.

  2. لها من النارِ روحٌ فوقَ مَفْرِقِهَا

    تدِبُّ فيها ولا يبقَى لها رَمَقُ

    She has a spirit of fire above the crown of her head;

    It creeps through her, and no breath of life remains in her.

  3. تكابدُ الليلَ تُفْنِيه ويأكُلُها

    والليلُ يضحكُ إذْ تبكِي وتحتَرِقُ

    She struggles through the night, wears it away, and it devours her.

    And the night laughs as she weeps and burns.

  4. فقلتُ ما أنتِ مثلي أنتِ في دَعَةٍ

    طولَ النهارِ ويومي كلُّهُ قَلقُ

    So I said, 'You are not like me: you are at ease

    All day long, while my whole day is unrest.'