يا لَيلَةً لَم تَبِن مِن القِصَرِ

يا لَيلَةً لَم تَبِن مِن القِصَرِ

كَأَنَها قُبلَةٌ عَلى حَذَرِ

كَأَنَها قُبلَةٌ عَلى حَذَرِ

O night, too brief to be discerned,

O night that did not last long in the palace

As though it were a kiss given warily;

As if it were a kiss taken cautiously

لَم تَكُ إِلّا كَلا وَلا وَمَضَت

لَم تَكُ إِلّا كَلا وَلا وَمَضَت

تَدفَعُ في صَدرِها يَدُ السَحَرِ

تَدفَعُ في صَدرِها يَدُ السَحَرِ

It lasted only as long as 'no' and 'no,' then passed,

It was nothing but a glimpse and it passed

With the hand of predawn pushing against its breast.

Pushing away the hand of dawn in its chest