أَلا لَيتَ شِعري كَيفَ أَصبَحَ عَهدُها

أَدامَ عَلى ما كانَ أَم قَد تَغَيَّرا

Oh, would that I knew how her covenant fared,

If with time it remained or if it were impaired;

فإِن يَكُ مَرُّ الدَهرِ غَيَّرَ وُدَّها

وَأَودى بِهِ طولُ الزَمانِ فَأَدبَرا

Should the days have estranged and altered her care,

And the long years have urged it to wear and tear;

فَإِني لَباقي الوُدِّ لا مُتَبَدِّلٌ

سِواها بِها حَتّى أَموتَ فَأُقبَرا

Yet I in my love remain steadfast and true,

To none but her 'til death doth claim me and inter;

فَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ الحُبِّ أَبلى لِأَهلِهِ

وَلا مِثلَ أَهلِ العِشقِ أَشقى وَأَصبَرا

Ne'er saw I the like of this love so sincere,

Nor the like of love's folk so afflicted and tried, yet so patient and firm.