ثماني حسان ملكن الفؤادْ

ثماني سنين طوال شدادْ

Eight years of joy possessed my heart,

Eight long years of hardship and smart.

فبعضاً أطعتُ وبعضاً عصيتُ

وبعضٌ أضرَّ وبعضٌ أفادْ

Some rules I obeyed, some I defied,

Some were harmful, some were my guide.

ولم أستفد غير صبرٍ على ال

هموم وعلم بها واعتيادْ

I gained only patience for every woe,

Knowledge of anguish, and its steady flow.

عرفت الحسان فما بالحسان

طبائعُ مرجوَّةٌ تستجادْ

I learned that joy has a fickle heart;

Its nature is not to persevere or last.

لئن خلت الأرض ممن أحبُّ

وأرضى فليس لحبي نفادْ

Though the earth were emptied of those I love

And cherish, my love would still hold fast.

فمن لي بمن يستحق الهوى

وإني له بحياتي جوادْ

But who deserves such constant affection?

For him I would give my life; such is my predilection.