وَلَيلَةٍ قَد غَيبت نَحسَها

وَلَيلَةٍ قَد غَيبت نَحسَها

وَوَفَرت حَظي مِن سَعدِها

وَوَفَرت حَظي مِن سَعدِها

And a night that had hidden its ill fortune,

A night whose ill-omen was concealed

And given me an ample share of its good fortune,

My share of its blessings was scarce

كَأَنّها طُرةُ فَتانة

كَأَنّها طُرةُ فَتانة

دَعجاؤُها سَوداء مِن جعدها

دَعجاؤُها سَوداء مِن جعدها

As though it were the forelock of an enchanting woman,

As if it was a flirtatious bird

Its deep darkness black from her curls.

Whose black locks were tousled

قَصيرة قَصرها طيبُها

قَصيرة قَصرها طيبُها

كَأَنَّها عمري مِن بَعدِها

كَأَنَّها عمري مِن بَعدِها

Brief—its sweetness had shortened it—

Brief was its sweetness

As though it were the life left to me after it.

As if it were my life after it