وَما هَجَروكَ مِن ذَنبٍ إِلَّيهِم

وَلَكِن قَلَّ في الناسِ الوَفاءُ

They did not abandon you for any sin of theirs,

But loyalty has become rare among people.

وَغَيَّرَ عَهدَهُم مَرُّ اللَيالي

وَحانَ لِمُدَّةِ الوَصلِ انقِضاءُ

The passing nights have changed their pledge,

And the time for attachment has come to an end.

سَرابيلُ المُلوكِ لَها جَمالٌ

وَلَيسَ لَها إِذا لُبِسَت بَقاءُ

The robes of kings are beautiful,

But they have no permanence when worn.

وَإِنَّ العَطفَ بَعدَ العَتبِ يُرجى

وَإِنَّ المَلَّةَ الداءُ العَياءُ

Hopefully gentleness comes after harshness,

But persistence is the bane of the despondent.

رَأَيتُ اليَأسَ يُلبِسُني خُشوعاً

وَأَرجوها فَيُعوِزُني الرَجاءُ

I have seen despair clothe me in humility,

And I hope in it, yet hope eludes me.