1. أَكابد مِن برح النَوى ما أَكابدُ

    وَأَني عَلَيها لَو يفيد لواجِدُ

    I suffer what I suffer from the agony of separation;

    And I grieve over it—if grieving could avail.

  2. أَئنُّ مِن الشَوق المُبرح وَالجَوى

    أَنين عَليل أَسلَمتُهُ العَوائِدُ

    I moan from agonizing longing and burning heartache,

    The moan of an invalid forsaken by his women visitors.

  3. كَأَنَّ بِقَلبي نار سَفر تَشبها

    بِنشز مِن الأَرض الرِياح الصَوارِدُ

    As though in my heart were a travelers' fire, kindled

    On a rise of ground by chill winds.

  4. يَكادُ يَشف الجسم عَنها مِن الضَنا

    فَيبصرها مَحسوسة مِن يُشاهِدُ

    My body, wasted by sickness, almost lets it show through,

    So whoever looks can see it as something tangible.

  5. أَبيتُ عَليلاً لا أَرى لِيَ عائِداً

    سِوى زَفرات في الحَشا تَتَصاعَدُ

    I spend the night ailing, with no visitor to be seen,

    Save sighs that rise within my breast.

  6. وَأَني لَمُشتاق إِلى الأَهل وَالحمى

    وَلَكن إِلى مَولايَ شَوقيَ زائِدُ

    And indeed I long for my family and homeland,

    But my longing for my lord is greater still.

  7. صَفا وَدَنا مِما يَكدر غَيرُهُ

    فَما ثمَّ في هَذا البعاد تَباعدُ

    Our affection is clear of what clouds other affections,

    So there is no estrangement in this distance.

  8. لَئِن كُنتَ قَد ساعَدتَني في ملمة

    رَماني بِها الدَهر الظَلوم المُعاندُ

    If indeed you have helped me in a calamity

    That unjust, obstinate Time hurled upon me,

  9. فَمثلكَ مَذخور لَها وَمُؤمل

    وَمثلكَ لِلأَحرار فيهِ مُساعِدُ

    Then one like you is held in reserve for it, and looked to with hope,

    And one like you helps the freeborn in such times.

  10. وَما زالَ يُبدو مِنكَ لي مُتطولاً

    عَوارف لَيسَت تَنقَضي وَمَحامدُ

    And from you, in your generosity, there have always come to me

    Favors without end and deeds worthy of praise.

  11. وَما كانَ مني بِاِختيار فراقكم

    وَلَكنَّ رَيب الدَهر ما لا يُعانِدُ

    And my parting from you was not of my own choosing,

    But the vicissitudes of Time cannot be resisted.

  12. بِأَدنى الَّذي أَلقاهُ مِن لاعج الأَسى

    تَمور وَتندك الجِبال الرَواكِدُ

    The least of the searing sorrow I endure

    Would make the immovable mountains heave and crumble.

  13. وَلَو بحتُ بِالشَكوى لرقت لَها العِدى

    وَذابَت لَها صم الحَصا وَالجلامدُ

    And if I voiced my complaint, even foes would soften at it,

    And hard pebbles and boulders would melt at it.

  14. وَمَهما اِشتَكَيت الدَهر مِن جور صَرفِهِ

    فَأَني لَما أَولانيَ اللَه حامدُ

    And however much I complain of Time for its cruel reversals,

    I am still thankful for what God has bestowed on me.