يا مَنْ نَأَى فجَعَلتُ بعدَ فِرَاقِهِ

أسِمُ الوُجُوهَ بِنَظرةِ المُتَبدِّلِ

O you who left, and after you went away

I called all faces by the look of the fickle one,

فارْتَدَّ سَرْحُ اللَّحظِ أَعجَفَ سَائِماً

إذْ كَانَ مرتَعُهُ بِوَادٍ مُمْحِلِ

So the gaze strayed, going back weakened and tired

When its pasture was in a barren valley.

ما أنْ وجَدْتُ لِقُرْبِ غَيرِكَ لَذَّةً

إلاّ وكُنتَ عَلَى البِعَادِ ألذّ لِي

I found no pleasure in the nearness of others

Except that you, from afar, were sweeter to me.

سَأقُولُ والأمْثَالُ يُرْسِلُها الفَتَى

فِيمَا يَشَاءُ مَقَالةَ المُتَمثِّلِ

I will say, and the youth sends out such proverbs,

Whatever he wishes, the words of the reciter.

نَقِّلْ فُؤَادَكَ حَيثُ شِئْتَ فإنَّهُ

ما الحُبُّ إلاَّ للحَبِيبِ الأوَّلِ

Move your heart wherever you wish, for love

Is only for the first beloved.

كَمْ مَنْزِلٍ في الأَرْضِ يأْلفُهُ الفَتَى

وحَنينُهُ أبَداً لأوَّلِ مَنْزلِ

How many dwellings on earth are loved by the youth,

Yet his longing is always for the first dwelling.