وَدِدتُ وَما تُغني الوِدادَةُ أَنَّني

بِما في ضَميرِ الحاجِبِبَّةِ عالِمُ

I yearned, though yearning avails not, that I knew

What's in the mind of the frowning, veiled belle;

فَإِن كانَ خَيراً سَرَّني وَعَلِمتُهُ

وَإِن كانَ شَرّاً لَم تَلُمني اللَوائِمُ

If 'twere but good, it gladdened me, and I learned it;

If ill, no blame from blamers came on me to dwell.

وَما ذَكَرَتكِ النَفسُ إِلّا تَفَرَّقَت

فَريقَينِ مِنها عاذِرٌ لي وَلائِمُ

Whene'er my soul did mention thee, it parted

In twain: one half excused me, one did chide and quell.

فَريقٌ أَبى أَن يَقبَلَ الضَيمَ عَنوَةً

وَآخِرُ مِنها قابِلُ الضَيمِ راغِمُ

One half refused capriciously to swallow

Insult; one half was swallowing insults fell.

أَروحُ وَأَغدو مِن هَواكِ وَأَستَري

وَفي النَفسِ مِمّا قَد عَلِمتِ عَلاقِمُ

I visit thee and hie me home, by passion driven,

And in my soul is that which shall for aye remain.

إِلى أَهلِ أَجنادَينِ مِن أَرضِ مَنبِجٍ

عَلى الهَولِ إِذ ضَفرُ القُوى مُتَلاحِمُ

To Anjádán's lord in Mambij's land I'm faring

For fear, when warrior tribes be dashed together fain.

وَما لَستُ مِن نُصحي أَخاكَ بِمُنكَرٍ

بِبُطنانَ إِذ أَهلُ القِبابِ عَماعِمُ

No ignoble friend am I to chide thee basely

When mail-coats glint and glaives in war their lightnings rain.

سَيَأتي أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَدونَهُ

رُحابٌ وَأَنهارُ البُضَيعِ وَجاسِمُ

The Prince of True Believers soon shall lead his armies

And in his rear be mansions wide and gardens sweet and fain,

ثَنائي تُنَمّيهِ عَلَيَّ وَمِدحَتي

سَمامٌ عَلى رُكبانِهِنَّ العَمائِمُ

While daily my adversity and praise of thee

Like saddle-bags shall carry those who robes of honor gain.