عَدِمْتُ دَهْراً وُلِدْتُ فيه

كَم أَشربُ المُرَّ مِن بنيه

I missed an era in which I was born

How much bitterness do I drink from its people

ما تَعتَريني الهمومُ إِلّا

مِن صاحِبٍ كُنتُ أَصطَفيه

Worries befall me only

From a friend I used to choose

فَهل صَديق يُبَاعُ حتّى

بِمُهجَتي كُنتُ أَشتَريه

Can a friend be sold until

With my brain I used to buy him

يكون في قلبه مِثَالٌ

يشبه ما صاغ لي بفِيه

To have an example in his heart

That resembles what his mouth portrayed to me

وكم صديقٍ رَغِبْتُ عنه

قد عِشْتُ حتى رَغِبْتُ فيه

And how many friends I desired

I lived until I desired him