أَلا رُبَّ فِتيانٍ كَأَنَّ وُجوهَهُم

كَواكِبُ لَيلِ غابَ عَنهُ هِلالُهُ

Behold, many young men whose faces

Were like stars, now their crescent has set.

أَنخَت رَجائي في فِناءِ إِخائِهِم

فَما زالَ مَمدوداً عَلَيهِ ظِلالُهُ

My hopes sank as their brotherhood ended;

Its shade, which sheltered me, is gone.

وَذُقتُهُم في السُخطِ مِنهُم وَفي الرِضا

فَما ذُقتُ إِلّا مَن حَلَت لي خِصالُهُ

In joy or in rage, their bitterness I've tasted,

But no taste was as sweet as when we were close.

إِذا جِئتَ مِنُ سَيِّداً تَستَميحُهُ

أَنالَكَ ما تَرَجّوهُ مِنهُ نَوالُهُ

When asking a favor from your master,

Speak courteously; fulfillment will come your way.

إِذا المَرءُ مِنهُ كانَ جاراً لِسَيِّدٍ

وَأِسقَمَهُ الأَعداءُ عافاهُ ما لُهُ

When serving your master loyally,

In sickness or health, stand by his side.