ذَهَبَ الناسُ فانفرادِي أَنِيْسِي

وكِتَابِي مُحَدِّثِي وَجَلِيْسِي

The people are gone, and my solitude is my companion

My book is who I talk to, and my seatmate

صاحِبٌ قد أَمِنْتُ مِنْهُ مَلاَلاً

واختلالاً وَكلَّ خُلْقٍ بَئِيْسِ

A friend whom I am assured will not bore me

Nor disagree with me, of any unpleasant nature

ليس في نَوْعِهِ بِحَيٍّ ولكنْ

يَلْتَقِي الحَيُّ منه بالمَرْمُوْسِ

He is not alive, and yet

The living may meet in him what is preserved