رخصْت معاملتي على رجلٍ

وليغلُوَنّ عليه ما رَخُصا

I tolerated a man's ill treatment,

While he was harsh towards me,

ولأحرصنَّ على قطيعتِهِ

وبعاده أضعافَ ما حرصا

And I will be keen to sever ties with him,

Keener by far than he was eager.

ولأشربنَّ على تنقُّصِهِ

حتى كأني لستُ منتقِصا

And I will gulp down my grievance over him

Until it seems I have no grievance.

إذ لا أرى في عيشتي شَرَقاً

بفراقِهِ كلا ولا غصصا

For I see no joy in a life

Without him, no not at all.

ما في فِراق مفارقٍ نَغَصٌ

حسبي بذكري حُقرتي نغصا

In leaving a leaver there is no sadness,

It is enough that I recall my insignificance is sadness.

من كان أشخصَ قلبَهُ سأمٌ

عني فقلبي عنه قد شخصا

One whose heart is wearied of me,

Then my heart is wearied of him.

ولقد بدا لكن محايدةً

ولقد جرى لكنه نكصا

And he certainly showed impartiality,

And he certainly regressed.

ولقد يعود السيف مِقدحةً

ويُبدَّلُ الغصنُ الرطيبُ عصا

And the sword may yet flash fire,

And the soft branch turn to rod.