أَتاني أَخٌ مِن غَيبَةٍ كانَ غابَها

وَكُنتُ إِذا ما غابَ أَنشُدُهُ رَكبا

A brother came to me after a long absence

When he was away, I would recite his name in verse

فَجاءَ بِمَعروفٍ كَثيرٍ فَدَسَّهُ

كَما دَسَّ راعي السَوءِ في حِضنِهِ الوَطَبا

He came with plentiful kindness and hid it

As a shepherd hides thorns in the fold's midst

فَقُلتُ لَهُ هَل جِئتَني بِهِدِيَّةٍ

فَقالَ بِنَفسي قُلتُ أَتحِف بِها الكَلبا

I said "Have you brought me a gift?"

He said "It's myself," I said "Would I give a cur praise?"

هِيَ النَفسُ لا أَرثي لَها مِن بَلِيَّةٍ

وَلا أَتَمَنّى أَن رَأَيتُ لَها قُربا

It's the self, I wouldn't mourn it if it came to harm

Nor wish I'd seen any blessing brought its way