أتانِيَ ما لم أَزْل أَعتقدْ

به منك من حُسْن حفظ ووُد

What I never ceased to believe

Of your good safekeeping and affection

فساق إليّ وفودَ السرور

وأذهب عني وُفودَ الكَمَدْ

Has come to me, sending joy's delegates

And taking away delegations of gloom.

ولستُ له شاكراً إنني

أرى لك عندي به فضلَ يَدْ

Yet I cannot thank you, since I see

No special merit of yours in this:

لأنك من طبعك المكرماتُ

وصِدقُ الوفاء وشَدُّ العَضُدْ

It is your nature to be generous

And truly faithful, firm in your support;

وليس الإخاء الذي بيننا

ببدْعٍ إذا ما استوى وانعقد

Nor is the brotherhood between us

Innovation, now that it is fixed and settled,

لأنّا إلى والدٍ واحدٍ

تفرُّعُنا حين نُدْعَى وجَد

Since we both branched out from one father

When we were called into being and found life.

فلو كنتُ أَمِلك سُؤْلِي لَمَا

رضِيتُ سواك خليلي أَحَدْ

If I had any say in the matter, I would not

Choose anyone but you as my friend.