يا دارَ أَسماءَ بَينَ السَفحِ فَالرُحبِ

أَقوَت وَعَفّى عَلَيها ذاهِبُ الحِقَبِ

O house of Asmaa, between the slopes and the vastness

Time has worn you down, as the epochs pass

فَما تَبَيَّنَ مِنها غَيرُ مُنتَضَدٍ

وَراسِياتٍ ثَلاثٍ حَولَ مُنتَصِبِ

Nothing remains of you but some scattered ruins

And three pillars standing around a mihrab

وَعَرصَةُ الدارِ تَستَنُّ الرِياحُ بِها

تَحِنُّ فيها حَنينِ الوُلَّهِ السُلُبِ

The courtyard of the house, where the winds moan

With the yearning of parted lovers

دارٌ لِأَسماءَ إِذ قَلبي بِها كَلِفٌ

وَإِذ أُقَرَّبُ مِنها غَيرَ مُقتَرِبِ

A house for Asmaa, when my heart was devoted to her

And when I drew near, without really drawing near

إِنَّ الحَبيبَ الَّذي أَمسَيتُ أَهجُرُهُ

مِن غَيرِ مَقلِيَةٍ مِنّي وَلا غَضَبِ

Indeed, the beloved whom I distanced myself from

Without any wrongdoing from me, nor anger

أَصُدُّ عَنهُ اِرتِقاباً أَن أَلُمَّ بِهِ

وَمَن يَخَف قالَةَ الواشينَ يَرتَقِبِ

I avoid him, hoping to be reunited

For whoever fears the gossip of spies, anticipates

إِنّي حَوَيتُ عَلى الأَقوامِ مَكرُمَةً

قِدماً وَحَذَّرَني ما يَتَّقونَ أَبي

I have shown nobility to the people

My father warned me against what they fear

وَقالَ لي قَولَ ذي عِلمٍ وَتَجرِبَةٍ

بِسالِفاتِ أُمورِ الدَهرِ وَالحِقَبِ

And he said to me words of wisdom and experience

Regarding the events of fate and the epochs

أَمَرتُكَ الرُشدَ فَاِفعَل ما أُمِرتَ بِهِ

فَقَد تَرَكتُكَ ذا مالٍ وَذا نَشَبِ

I commanded you to be righteous, so do as you are told

For I have left you with wealth and youth

وَنِلتَ مَجداً فَحاذِر أَن تُدَنِّسَهُ

أَبٌ كَريمٌ وَجَدٌّ غَيرُ مُؤتَشَبِ

And you have attained glory, so beware of tainting it

A generous father and ancestors without blemish

لا تَبخَلَنَّ بِمالٍ عَن مَذاهِبِهِ

في غَيرِ زَلَّةِ إِسرافٍ وَلا ثَغَبِ

Do not be miserly with wealth from its purposes

Except to avoid prodigality or greed

فَإِنَّ وُرّاثَهُ لَن يَحمَدوكَ بِهِ

إِذا أَجَنّوكَ بَينَ اللَبنِ وَالخَشَبِ

For its heirs will not praise you for it

When they take turns between milk and swaddling

وَاِترُك خَلائِقَ قَومٍ لا خَلاقَ لَهُم

وَاِعمَد لِأَخلاقِ أَهلِ الفَضلِ وَالأَدَبِ

And leave the manners of people without manners

And hold to the morals of people of merit and refinement

وَإِن دُعيتَ لِغَدرٍ أَو أُمِرتَ بِهِ

فَاِهرَب بِنَفسِكَ عَنهُ أَيَّةَ الهَرَبِ

And if you are called to betrayal or ordered to do it

Escape it with all your might, in whichever way you can