رأى ربعَ ليلَى بالحِمَى فشجَاه

وألْصق فوقَ التُّرب منه حشاه

He saw the quarter of Layla's abode in ruins, so he wept for it

And heaped above the soil some of its rubble

وكم قد دعاه الشوقُ من أمّ مالكٍ

فلَبّاهُ منه الدمعُ حين دَعاه

And how often did yearning call unto him from the tribe of Malik

So tears answered his call whenever it called him

فلا تعذلاه أن تّذكر مَا مَضَى

فقد يذكر الإنسانُ عَصْرَ صِبَاه

Reproach him not if he recalls what is past

For man may remember the days of his youth

وفي الراجعين المُدْلجين مخلجَلٌ

إذا ما دنى فالموتُ لحظُ رُنّاه

And in those who return, hobbling back, there is one paralyzed

When death draws near to seize the instant of his return

تودّ أقاح الروضِ وهي ندِيَّةٌ

ببطنِ ثراها إن تقبِّل فاه

The meadow wishes its chamomile were dewy

That it might kiss their mouths amid their valley's abundant herbage

ومُخجل غُصْنِ البانِ في عُقَد النقا

إذا مَاسَ نشواناً يجرُّ رِدَاه

While the modest branch of acacia is embarrassed by the cluster of blossoms

If it but grazes, trailing its cloak

خليليّ لي طَرفٌ مللتُ ضلالَه

ولو شاء رب العالمين هداه

My friend has a glance that went astray and I grew weary of its straying

Had the Lord of the Worlds so willed, He would have guided it

خليليّ لي طَرفٌ إذا ما كَفَفْتُه

عن الجهلِ بعدَ الحلمِ طال بكاه

My friend has a glance - when I restrain it

From ignorance, after having had insight, its weeping is prolonged

خليلي لي جسم أضربه الضنى

فهل من طيب مبرءٍ لضناه

My friend has a body that hardship strikes

Is there any wholesome perfume to alleviate its hardship?

عسى الحدقي السَاعدي يجيرني

فما زال يأبَى أن يُبَاح حماه

Perhaps the Hudayni clan will protect me

For it has always refused to allow its sanctuary to be desecrated

عسىَ نظرة لي من سَماحِ محمدٍ

فكم جاد مثلي مجدباً وسقاه

Perhaps a compassionate glance from Muhammad will come my way

For how often has one like me, emaciated, been blessed by his generosity and watered by him

كريمٌ أبوه كان يُذْكَرُ قَبْله

وقد يشبه النسلُ النسيبُ أباه

Noble was his father, who was mentioned before him

And offspring may resemble their honorable father