أَعْزِزْ عَليَّ بأَنْ تبيتَ عَليلا

أَوْ أَنْ يَحِلَّ بِكَ السَّقَامُ نَزِيلا

Crush me by staying ill all night,

Or be consumed with sickness as a lasting guest.

وَلئِن سُئِلْتُ أُجيبُ عنكَ بِلَوْعةٍ

إذْ قِيْلَ أوْ عَكَ أو أحَسَّ غليلا

If asked about you, I would answer with anguish,

Saying, “He is sick,” or, “He feels unwell.”

فَودِدْتُ أنِّي مالكٌ لِسَلامتي

فَأُعيرُكاها بُكرةً وأَصيلا

I wish I owned my wellbeing,

So I could lend it to you mornings and evenings.

هذا أخٌ لك يَشتكي إذ تشتكي

وكذا الخليلُ إذا أَحَبَّ خَلِيلا

This is a brother who complains when you complain,

Just as a friend sympathizes when his friend is in pain.