وَتيهاء لَم تَطمَث بِخفٍّ وَحافِرٍ

وَتيهاء لَم تَطمَث بِخفٍّ وَحافِرٍ

وَلم يَدرِ فيها النَجمُ كَيفَ يَغورُ

وَلم يَدرِ فيها النَجمُ كَيفَ يَغورُ

And a trackless desert, untouched by camel’s pad or hoof,

A wilderness unstamped by hoof or sandal

And within it the star knew not how to set.

Where stars know not the windows of their setting

معالِمُها أَن لا معالمَ بَينَها

معالِمُها أَن لا معالمَ بَينَها

وَآياتُها ان المَسيرَ غرورُ

وَآياتُها ان المَسيرَ غرورُ

Its landmarks were that no landmarks lay within it,

With landmarks only that there are no landmarks

And its signs were that the journey was a delusion.

And tracks so maze-like they befool the wise.

وَلَو قيلَ لِلغَيثِ اسقِها ما اِهتَدى لَها

وَلَو قيلَ لِلغَيثِ اسقِها ما اِهتَدى لَها

وَلو ظَلَّ مِلءُ الأَرضِ وَهو جزورُ

وَلو ظَلَّ مِلءُ الأَرضِ وَهو جزورُ

And if the rain were told, “Water it,” it would find no way to it,

Were the rain asked to find her he would fail,

Even if it remained filling the earth, and were a camel for slaughter.

Though the earth should fill with days of downpour.

تجَشَّمتُها وَاللَيلُ وَحفٌ جناحُهُ

تجَشَّمتُها وَاللَيلُ وَحفٌ جناحُهُ

كَأَنِّيَ سِر وَالظَلام ضَميرُ

كَأَنِّيَ سِر وَالظَلام ضَميرُ

I braved it while night’s wing was dense,

I ventured there when darkness mantled night

As though I were a secret, and the darkness a heart.

As if I were the secret and night, confidant.