أَعيَت عَلى الأَوهامِ تِلكَ العُلى

أَعيَت عَلى الأَوهامِ تِلكَ العُلى

وَاِستَعجَمَت مِن وَصلِهِنَّ الفِصاح

وَاِستَعجَمَت مِن وَصلِهِنَّ الفِصاح

Those lofty heights have baffled the imagination.

Those lofty dreams have wearied my imagination

And the eloquent grew tongue-tied in seeking to reach them.

And their attainment has confounded my eloquence

لا تُدرَكُ الغاياتُ إِلا مُنىً

لا تُدرَكُ الغاياتُ إِلا مُنىً

لا يُجتَلى البارِقُ إِلا التِماح

لا يُجتَلى البارِقُ إِلا التِماح

The utmost goals are attained only in dreams.

No goals are reached save through yearning

Lightning is beheld only in a fleeting glance.

No lightning flashes but from the clash of clouds