1. يا دارَ أَسماءَ بَينَ السَفحِ فَالرُحب

    أَقوى وَعَفّى عَلَيها ذاهِبُ الحقبِ

    O dwelling of Asma, between al-Safh and al-Ruhb,

    It became deserted, and passing ages effaced its traces.

  2. فَما تَبَيَّنَ مِنا غَيرُ مُنتَضِدٍ

    وَراسِياتٍ ثَلاثٍ حَولَ مُنتَصِبِ

    No trace of us was visible except a piled-up remnant,

    and three firmly set stones around an upright remnant;

  3. وَعَرصَةِ الدارِ تَستَنُّ الرِياحُ بِها

    تَحِنُّ فيها حَنينَ الوالِهِ السُلُبِ

    and the dwelling's open courtyard, where the winds race,

    moaning there like one distraught and bereaved.

  4. دارٌ لا سماءَ إِذ قَلبي بِها كَلِفٌ

    وَإِذ أُقَرِّبُ مِنها غَيرَ مُقتَرِبِ

    Asma's dwelling, when my heart was enamored of her,

    and when I made approaches to her without coming close.

  5. إِنَّ الحَبيبَ الَّذي أَمسَيتُ أَهجُرُهُ

    عَن غَيرِ مَقلِيَّةٍ مِنّي وَلا غَضِبِ

    Indeed, the beloved whom I have come to shun—

    not from hatred on my part, nor from anger—

  6. أَصُدُّ عَنهُ اِرتِقاباً أَن أُلِمَّ بِهِ

    وَمَن يَخَف قالَةَ الواشينَ يَرتَقِبِ

    I turn away from the beloved, wary of paying a visit;

    and whoever fears the tale-bearers' gossip keeps watch.

  7. إِنّي حَوَيتُ عَلى الأَقوامِ مَكرَمَةً

    قدماً وَحَذَّرَني ما يَتَّقونَ أَبى

    Indeed, I have won distinction above other peoples,

    long ago; and my father warned me against what they guard against.

  8. فَقالَ لي قَولَ ذي رَأَيٍ وَمَقدِرَةِ

    مُجَرِّبٍ عاقِلِ نزهَ عَنِ الريبِ

    Then he spoke to me as one possessing judgment and ability,

    experienced, discerning, and free of suspicion:

  9. قَد نِلتُ مَجداً فَحاذِر أَن تُدنّسَهُ

    أَبٌ كَريمٌ وَجَدٌ غَيرُ مَؤتَشِبِ

    I have won glory; so beware of sullying it.

    A noble father, and a grandfather of unmixed lineage.

  10. أَمرتُكَ الرُشدَ فَاِفعَل ما أُمِرتَ بِهِ

    فَقَد تَركتُكُ ذا مالٍ وذَا نَشَبِ

    I commanded you to act rightly; do what you were commanded to do.

    For I have left you with wealth and property.

  11. وَاِترُك خَلائِقَ قَومٍ لا خَلاقَ لَهُم

    وَاِعمد لأخَلاق أَهل الفَضلِ وَالأَدَبِ

    And abandon the ways of people who have no share in goodness,

    and seek the character of people of virtue and refinement.

  12. وَإِن دُعيتَ لَغَدرٍ أَو أُمِرتَ بِهِ

    فَاِهرب بِنَفسِكَ عَنهُ أَيِّدِ الهَرَبِ

    And if you are called to treachery, or commanded to commit it,

    then flee from it to save yourself, with all your strength.

  13. لا تَبخَلَنَّ بِمالٍ عَن مَذاهِبِهِ

    مِن غَيرِ ذِلَّةِ إِسرافٍ وَلا ثَغَبِ

    Do not withhold wealth from its proper channels,

    but without the humiliation of extravagance or hunger,

  14. فَإِنَّ وُرّاثَهُ لَن يَحمَدوكَ لَهُ

    إِذا أَجنوكَ بَينَ اللَبنِ وَالخَشَبِ

    for its heirs will not praise you for it

    when they bury you between mud bricks and timbers.