ما بال شمس أبي الخطاب قد غربت

يا صاحبي أظن الساعةَ اقتربت

Why has the sun of Abu al-Khattab set?

My friend, I think the hour has drawn near.

أم لا فما بال ريح كنتُ آملُها

غدت علي بصرٍّ بعدما خبئت

Or not - so why has the wind I hoped for

Become disdainful after hiding from me?

أشكو إليك أبا الخطاب جاريةً

غريرةً بفؤادي اليومَ قد لعبت

I complain to you, Abu al-Khattab, of a girl

Capricious, who toyed with my heart today.

رأيت قيمها يوماً يحدثها

يا ليتها قربت مني وما بعدت

One day I saw her keeper conversing with her -

I wish she had come closer and not kept away!