كأنّ ليلى مما طالَ جانبُه

كأنّ ليلى مما طالَ جانبُه

أخافَ صَبحي حتّى ضلَّ أو هَربا

أخافَ صَبحي حتّى ضلَّ أو هَربا

As though my night, with its span grown so long,

As though Laila, from my long vigil,

had frightened my dawn until it lost its way or fled.

Fears dawn will come, has lost her way, or fled,

كانّ صُبحي يخشى أن يُؤنبَهُ

كانّ صُبحي يخشى أن يُؤنبَهُ

أهلُ الهوى فاختفى بالليلِ وانتَقَبا

أهلُ الهوى فاختفى بالليلِ وانتَقَبا

As though my dawn feared being reproached

As though dawn fears the lovers will rebuke it,

by lovers, so it hid in the night and veiled its face.

So hides itself in night's skirts, in disguise.