أَبى في محاقِ الشهرِ أَن يظهرَ البدرُ

أَبى في محاقِ الشهرِ أَن يظهرَ البدرُ

وَعندَ هجومِ اللّيلِ لا يطلع الفجرُ

وَعندَ هجومِ اللّيلِ لا يطلع الفجرُ

The full moon refused to appear in the month's moonless phase.

The moon refused to rise in the darkest hour of night

And at night's onslaught, dawn does not rise.

And at the onset of darkness dawn failed to break

وَفي الرمزِ مَعنىً لو أَفوه بذكرهِ

وَفي الرمزِ مَعنىً لو أَفوه بذكرهِ

لَخفّف عنّي ما تحمّله الذكرُ

لَخفّف عنّي ما تحمّله الذكرُ

And in the symbol lies a meaning—were I to speak of it,

In symbols lie meanings - were I to utter them

it would lighten for me what memory has borne.

My burden would ease of the memories they evoke