A Night Like Jet

شبی چون شبه روی شسته به قیر

A night like jet, its face washed in pitch;

نه بهرام پیدا نه کیوان نه تیر

not Mars to be seen, nor Saturn, nor Mercury.

دگرگونه آرایشی کرد ماه

The moon had decked herself in a different way

بسیچ گذر کرد بر پیشگاه

and made ready to cross the court of heaven;

شده تیره اندر سرای درنگ

lingering, she had grown dark in her dwelling,

میان کرده باریک و دل کرده تنگ

her waist made thin, her heart grown narrow.

ز تاجش سه بهره شده لاژورد

Three parts of her crown had turned to lapis,

سپرده هوا را به زنگار و گرد

and she had left the air to rust and dust.

سپاه شب تیره بر دشت و راغ

The army of dark night, over plain and meadow,

یکی فرش گسترده از پر زاغ

had spread a carpet of raven's feathers.

نمودم ز هر سو به چشم اهرمن

On every side it looked to me like Ahriman,

چو مار سیه باز کرده دهن

like a black snake with its jaws flung open.

چو پولاد زنگار خورده سپهر

The sky was like steel eaten by rust;

تو گفتی به قیر اندر اندود چهر

you would say it had smeared its face with pitch.