1. أَأُخَيَّ ما اِتَّسَعَ الزَما

    نُ عَلى جَماعَتِنا وَضاقا

    O my dear brother, time has never opened wide

    for our company, nor grown narrow,

  2. إِلّا لِيُعقِبَنا اِجتِما

    عاً بِالنَوائِبِ وَاِفتِراقا

    except to bring us a meeting

    with misfortunes, and a parting.

  3. سابِق فَلَيسَ تُنالُ أَغ

    راضُ المُنى إِلّا سِباقا

    Race ahead, for none can attain the goals

    of desire except by racing,

  4. مِن قَبلِ أَن تَرِدَ الخُطو

    بُ عَلى مَوَدَّتِنا طِراقا

    before misfortunes descend

    upon our affection in succession.

  5. فَأَزيدُ بُعداً مِن لِقا

    ئِكَ كُلَّما اِزدَدتُ اِشتِياقا

    And I grow farther from meeting

    you whenever my longing grows.

  6. وَأَراكَ تَمنَحُني الصَدو

    دَ وَبَعدُ لَم أَنوِ اِنطِلاقا

    And I see you bestow rejection on me,

    though I have not yet intended to depart.

  7. إِن كانَ ذا خَوفَ الفِرا

    قِ فَقَد تَعَجَّلتَ الفِراقا

    If this is for fear of parting,

    then you have hastened the parting.