أَشكو إِلَيكَ زَماناً ظلَّ يعركني

عَركَ الأَديم وَمن يعدي عَلى الزَمنِ

I complain to you of a time that rubbed me raw

It chafed my hide, yet who can exceed time?

وَصاحِباً كنتُ مَغبوطاً بِصُحبَتِهِ

دَهراً فَغادَرَني فَرداً بِلا سَكَنِ

And a companion, whose company made me blissful -

for an age he gladdened me, not alone was I.

هَبَّت لهُ ريح اِقبالٍ فَطارَ بِها

إِلى السُرورِ وَأَلجاني الى الحُزنِ

A wind of good fortune caught him up and flew

with him to joy, while grief was left for me.

نَأى بِجانِبِهِ عَنّي وَصَيَّرَني

مَعَ الاِسى وَدَواعي الشَوقِ في قَرَنِ

He turned his side to me and made me be

a mate of longing and the pangs of love-sick care.

وَباعَ صَفوَ ودادٍ كنت أَقصره

عَلَيهِ مُجتَهِداً في السِرِّ وَالعَلَن

He sold the cordial love I used to show him,

striving in secrecy and openly,

وَكانَ غالي بِهِ حيناً فَأَرخَصه

يا من رَأى صَفو ودٍ بيع بِالثَمَن

held once so dear, sold cheap for nothing -

O you who saw esteem bartered for pelf!

كَأَنَّهُ كانَ مَطوِيّاً عَلى احنٍ

وَلم يَكُن من قَديم الدَهرِ أَنشَدَني

Like folded scrolls he seemed, yet was not one

recorded in the annals of old companions.

اِن الكِرام اِذا ما أَسهَلوا ذَكَروا

مَن كانَ يَألَفَهُم بِالمَنزِلِ الخشنِ

True noblemen, when they forget, recall

as friend one known in less prosperous days.