إذا سئلت عن ساعة البين خبّرت

عن اليوم في وقت الرواح أو الغد

When asked about the hour of separation I would tell

Of the day at the time of departure or tomorrow

وفرّق صرف الدهر بيني وبينها

وكنّا كما الوسطى وسبّابة اليد

And the vicissitudes of fate have separated me and her

And we were as the middle and index fingers

تجلدت عن سفح الدموع فلم أجد

مساغا ففاضت في حشا المتجلّد

I held back the flow of tears but could not

Find respite so they overflowed despite my resolve

وكانت دموعا فاستحالت بحرّها

لظى جذوة في يابس متوقّد

And they were tears but their abundance turned them

Into a blazing fire in the midst of dry kindling