أَيادي سبا يا عَزَّ ما كُنتُ بَعدَكُم

فَلَم يَحلُ لِلعَينَينِ بَعدَكِ منظَرُ

The hands of Saba, O honored one, after you

My eyes found no other view pleasing,

وَقَد زَعَمَت أَني تَغَيَّرتُ بَعدَها

وَمَن ذا الَّذي يا عَزَّ لا يَتَغَيَّرُ

And she claimed that I changed after her,

But who, O honored one, does not change?

تَغيّرَ جِسمي وَالخَلِيقَةُ كالَّذي

عَهِدتِ وَلَم يُخبَر بِسرِّكِ مُخبَرُ

My body changed, yet selfhood is as you knew it,

And none aware of your secret informed another,

أَبعِد اِبنِ لَيلى يَأَمَلُ الخُلدَ واحِدٌ

مِنَ الناسِ أَو يَرجو الثَراءَ مُثمِرُ

Does the son of Layla hope for eternity, alone

Among mankind, or expect thriving prosperity?