كَم كُنتُ أَقولُ إِنَّني أُدنيهِ

بالضَّمِّ وغُصنُ قَدِّهِ أَجنيهِ

How often I said I drew him near

With embraces, and his branch of early youth I plucked,

ها قَد هَدَمَ البِعادُ يَأسي مِنهُ

ما كانَ اقترابي بالرَّجا يَبنيهِ

But separation has destroyed my hopes for him -

My approach through hope did not build them.