نسيم الصَّبا لا كنتَ رَوْحاً ولا سَمَتْ

لك المُزْنُ إلا وَهْيَ هِيمٌ حوائمُ

The morning breeze, you were no spirit, no towering height,

No sweet perfume for you but sighing, wistful plight,

ولا استودعَتْكَ الروضُ طيباً وإن سقتْ

رسيسَ الهوى المكتومِ تلك النمائم

Though the garden made you bear its scent, and water gave

The hidden passions of desire a chance to rise and rave.

كما لم تبلّغْ عن أخيكَ وقد قضتْ

له حُرُماتٌ جمَّةٌ ومحارمُ

You never told about your brother, though his troth was sure

Binding many plighted faiths, and oaths to reassure,

لعلَّكَ إذ خِلْناك أخللتَ صمَّمت

إليك الظُّبَا أو أوْثَقَتْكَ الأداهم

Perhaps since we showed trust in you, you turned aside, grew numb,

The wolves drew after you, the dark your steps would come,

وإلا فقد ضاعتْ حقوقٌ وأخفقت

وسائل وانهدَّتْ بُنَىً ودعائمُ

Else rights are lost, hopes fail, ties snapped, foundations swept,

Means gone, and structures ruined, purposes unkept.

فحسبُكَ لا تسْتَنْكِرِ العُذْرَ بَعْدَها

وإن يَكُ بَغْياً فهو لا شَكَّ لازمُ

Enough—do not denial now from blame exempt,

For if it still is there, assuredly, it has not left.