الزَم جفاءك لي ولو فيه الضَّنا

وارفع حديثَ البين عَمّا بيننا

Keep your harsh aloofness from me even if doing so hurts me,

And raise the discussion of separation above what's between us.

فسمومُ هجرِكَ في هواجرِه والأذى

ونسيمُ وَصلِكَ في أصائِله المُنى

For the venom of your estrangement in its aggressions and harm

While the breeze of your connection in its gentleness is wished for.

ليسَ التلوُن من امارات الرضا

لكن إذا مَلَّ الحبيبُ تَلَوَّنا

Fickleness is not a sign of pleasure,

But when a lover becomes fickle, so does the loved one.

تُبدي الاسادة في التيقُّظِ عامداً

وأراك تُحسِنُ في الكرى أن تُحسِنا

You show excellence in estrangement if you wish to show excellence.

Why is it, when I implore your opinion, you attribute to me

ما لي إذا استعطفتُ رأيك رمتَ لي

عيباً جديداً من هناك ومن هنا

A new fault, now from here, now from over there?

I praise you but gain no favor,

مُثنِ عليك وما استفاد رغيبةً

عجبٌ ومعتذرٌ اليك وماجنا

Strange - I make excuses to you yet we have not sinned.

Nothing has led to this discourse but my expatriation,

ما جرَّ هذا الخطب غير تَغَرُّبي

ومن التغرُّب ما أذلّ وأهونا

And expatriation has brought the most debasing disgrace.

The most auspicious lands, though spacious,

أزكى بقاع الأرض وهي فسيحةٌ

ما كان سِربُ العيش فيها آمنا

Where livelihood was secure in them were not tranquil.

Livelihood has many forms, and that which you obtain

والرزقُ أنواعٌ فما صادفتَهُ

أخَلى من التبعات أحلَى مُجتَنى

Devoid of troubles, is the sweetest honeycombed.

Fate does not reveal the mysteries of its affairs

والدهرُ لا يفشي غوامضَ سِرِّهِ

إِلاّ الى ذي الفقر من بعد الغنى

Except to the poor man after wealth.

Keep company with men, for the endeavor of a man

أدمِن مُصاحبةَ الرجال فلم يخب

سعي امرىءٍ صحب الرجال فأِّدمَنا

Who kept company with men was not disappointed.

Do not be fooled by those whose hearts forbid

لا تغرّر بالمانعين قلوبَهم

إن سالموا والمانحين الألسنا

Though they make peace, and tongues that give.

The free man is lowest when he moves away,

الحرُّ أدنى ما يكون اذا نأى

والوغد أنأى ما يكون أذا دنا

While the scoundrel is farthest when he comes near.

And if you do not attain hopes by struggling,

وإذا الأماني لم تنلها مُعرِقاً

فاثن العنان وسر تَنَلها مُعمِنا

Then slacken the reins and go, and you will attain them speedily.

The authority of events has chained, so discharge at it

أوصالَ سلطانُ الحوادث فارمِهِ

بمؤيد السلطان حتى يذعنا

With the aid of authority, until it yields.

A king whom the orbit of the heavens adorned,

مَلِكٌ مُنى فلك السماء لو انّهن

بجلاله بدل الكواكب زُيِّنا

If it were by his majesty in place of the stars embellished.

He has grown accustomed to elevation, nearly refusing any robe

ألِفَ العُلوَّ فكاد يأبى حُلّةً

إِلا السناء وحِلّة الاّ السَّنا

Except praise, any garment except splendor.

After finding refuge in his shade I asked about him,

سائلتُ بعد اللائذين بظلِّه

عَنهُ فقال لي المقال البيِّنا

So he said to me the clear statement: