عينيَّ شُحَّا ولا تَسُحَّا

جلَّ مُصابي عن البكاءِ

My two eyes, stint your tears; do not let them stream—

my affliction is too immense for weeping.

تركُكُما الداءَ مُستكنّاً

أصدقُ عن صحةِ الوفاءِ

Your leaving the sickness hidden within

more truly attests to the soundness of your loyalty.

إن الأسى والبكاءَ قِدْماً

أمرانِ كالداء والدواءِ

For grief and weeping have, since of old,

been two things like illness and medicine.

وما ابتغاءُ الدواءِ إلا

بُغْيا سبيل إلى البقاءِ

And seeking medicine is nothing other than

seeking a path toward survival.

ومُبتغِي العيشِ بعد خِلٍّ

كاذِبُهُ خُلَّةَ الصفاءِ

But whoever seeks life after a dear friend

is false to him in claiming the bond of pure devotion.