وَمُهَفهَفٍ لَمّا تَمَلَّكَ مُهجَتي

هَجَرَ الوِصالَ وَواصَلَ الهَجرا

When passion seized my heart's reins headily,

He quit acquaintance and took up estrangement.

فَشَكَوتُ ما أَلقى إِلَيهِ مِنَ الأَسى

وَرَجَوتُ مِنهُ القِلى نَصرا

So to him I complained of the woes he caused me

And from him hoped for solace as my defender.

لَو أَنَّ فيهِ لَمُستهامٍ نَصرَةً

ما كانَ رِدفُهُ الخَصرا

Had he in him the helping of one asked for help,

His spine had not been what his belly nurtured.