لمّا رأيتُ النّجمَ ساةٍ طَرْفُه

لمّا رأيتُ النّجمَ ساةٍ طَرْفُه

والأفْقُ قد ألقَى عليه سُباتا

والأفْقُ قد ألقَى عليه سُباتا

When I saw the star, its gaze distracted [uncertain reading],

When I saw the drowsy star blink its eye,

and the horizon had cast slumber upon it,

And the horizon cast over it a doze,

وبناتُ نَعشٍ في الحِداد سوافرٌ

وبناتُ نَعشٍ في الحِداد سوافرٌ

أيقنْتُ أنّ صَباحَهم قد ماتا

أيقنْتُ أنّ صَباحَهم قد ماتا

and the Daughters of the Bier were unveiled in mourning,

And the pallbearers' daughters walked unveiled in mourning,

I knew for certain that their morning had died.

I knew for certain that their dawn had died.