It began with poet, novelist, and sometimes-translator Youssef Rakha:
He translated two lines by Mutanabbi, and then asked translators Yasmine Seale and Robin Moger — who have made a habit of co-translating Ibn Arabi — to try their hand at “Mutanabbi’s miraculous line”.
https://twitter.com/Sultans_Seal/status/1192438171755302912
Seven more translations ensued.
There were four from Yasmine Seale:
(2) I visit them, black night
my advocate
& go
before the morning light
can ruin it
#
(3) I go to them, knowing the night
Will work for me
And take off before morning
White, my enemy
#
(4) I turn up, safe in black
night’s favour, turning
when darkly at my back
whispers the white morning
#
(5) Night has my back. I stay.
My exit cue: the white
Betrayer, day.
#
Two were by Robin Moger:
(6) I show my face as night
Dark makes my case, the light
Exposing me,
I flee
#
(7) In company, night black’s my suit.
In morning white I wear my welcome out.
#
One was by Samuel Wilder:
(8) I visit them
in night my black emissary;
I fall away
in white morning
pulling me.