Sol 6.1

  1. أَخي أَنتَ النَصيحُ فَلا تَلُمني

    فَما دوني مِنَ النُصَحاءِ نابُ

    My brother, you are a sincere adviser, so do not blame me;

    for no counselor’s fang bars my way.

  2. وَلَكِن غِبتُ في بَلَدٍ بَعيدٍ

    وَبَعدَ الجَهدِ ما كانَ الإِيابُ

    But I was away in a distant land,

    and only after hardship did I return.

  3. فَلَمّا جِئتُ رَوَّعَني غَريمٌ

    يُحاوِلُ ما كَرِهتُ وَلا يَهابُ

    Then, when I arrived, a creditor frightened me,

    pursuing what I detested, and fearing nothing.

  4. أَخافُ غُدُوَّهُ يَمشي بِصَكٍّ

    كَحَرِّ النارِ لَيسَ لَهُ اِنقِلابُ

    I fear his morning approach as he walks with a debt-bond,

    like the heat of fire, with no turning it back.

  5. فَرُغتُ وَأَنتَ مِن هَمّي وَبالي

    وَما كُلُّ الرَواغِ لَهُ عِقابُ

    So I slipped away, though you are among my cares and thoughts;

    and not every evasion deserves punishment.

  6. فَلا تَعجَل بِلَومِ أَخٍ تَمَطّى

    عَلَيهِ الخَوفُ وَالزَمَنُ العُجابُ

    So do not hasten to blame a brother on whom

    fear and this strange age have stretched themselves.

  7. وَكُنتَ تَزورُني دَهراً طَويلاً

    وَلا سِترٌ عَلَيَّ وَلا حِجابُ

    And you used to visit me for a long time,

    with no screen over me and no veil.

  8. فَهَذي خِبأَتي وَدَخيلُ أَمري

    كَما أَحبَبتَ لَيسَ لَهُ مَعابُ

    So this is my secret and the inner truth of my affairs,

    as you wished; there is no fault in it,

  9. سِوى شَوقٍ أَظَلَّ أَظَلُّ مِنهُ

    عَلى طَرَبٍ وَأَضعَفُهُ الكِتابُ

    save a longing that has cast its shadow; because of it I remain

    in rapture—and the letter is its faintest expression.