ما بال هذا الدَهر غَير عَهدِكُم

ما بال هذا الدَهر غَير عَهدِكُم

وَأَبان مِن بَعدِ التَواصُلِ صدكم

وَأَبان مِن بَعدِ التَواصُلِ صدكم

What is with this Fortune, that it has changed your pledge?

Why has this age changed your pledge,

And after fellowship, it laid bare your turning away.

And revealed your turning away after fellowship?

فارَقتُموني بَعد التَجمع عَبدكم

فارَقتُموني بَعد التَجمع عَبدكم

وَالجَمع شَأن الدَهر وَالتَعويق

وَالجَمع شَأن الدَهر وَالتَعويق

After we came together, you left me—your servant.

You parted from me, your servant, after we had gathered,

Gathering is Fortune’s work—and hindrance too.

And union and hindrance are the ways of time.