كانوا بَعيداً فَكُنتُ آمُلهُم

حَتّى إِذا ما تَّقارَبوا هَجَروا

They were far away, so I kept hoping for them;

until, when they drew near, they forsook me.

فَالبُعدُ مِنهُم عَلى رَجائِهِمُ

أَنفَعُ مِن قُربِهِم إِذا هَجَروا

Thus distance from them, while still hoping for them,

does more good than their nearness when they forsake me.