راعى النجومَ فقَد كادَت تكلمهُ

وانهلَّ بعدَ دموعٍ يا لها دَمُهُ

He tended the stars when they almost spoke to him

And wept copious tears - how bloodied they were!

أشفى على سقمٍ يُشفى الرقيبُ بهِ

لو كان أسقمَهُ من كان يَرحمُهُ

Healing for an ailment that could be cured by vigilance

Had his ailment been tended by one who pitied him

يا من تجاهلَ عمَّا كانَ يعلمُهُ

عَمداً وباحَ بِسّرٍ كانَ يكتمُهُ

O you who feigned ignorance of what you knew

Deliberately, and divulged a secret you concealed

هذا خليلُكَ فِضواً لا حراكَ بهِ

لم يبقَ من جسمهِ إلا توهمُّهُ

This is your bosom friend, motionless

Of his body remains only the illusion