ولما رماني الدهر فيمن أحبّه

بسهم القلى والدهر من شأنه الغدر

When fate struck me with those I love

With the arrow of torment—such is the wont of fate, ever false—

بكيت على نفسي وقلت لها اصبري

فما للفتى إلا التجلّدُ والصبر

I wept for myself and said: "Patience!"

A youth has naught but fortitude and patience.

وقلت كما قد قال في الدهر قائل

نأى إلفهُ عنه فحل به الهجر

And I said, as another said of old:

"He has grown distant and estranged." So separation came.

عجبت لسعي الدهر بيني وبينها

فلما انقضى ما بيننا سكن الدهر

I marveled how time had intrigued between us,

Then, when what was between us passed, time was still.