عِندي لِأَهلِ الحِمى وَالرَّكبُ مُرتَحِلُ

قَلبٌ يُشَيِّعُهُم أَو مَدمَعٌ هَطِلُ

For the people of passion and travelers departing

My heart bids them farewell, or tears pouring down.

أَمّا الفُؤادُ فَلا يَبغي بِهِم بَدَلا

وَهَلْ عَنِ الرُّوحِ إِن فارَقْتُها بَدَلُ

As for my inner self, it desires no substitute for them,

Can the soul be replaced once it's departed?

وَفي الهوادِجِ مَن يُغري العواذِلَ بي

وَهُنَّ يَعجِزنَ عَمّا تَصنَعُ الإِبِلُ

Among the lovely ladies are those who tempt me,

Yet they cannot accomplish what the camels do.

تَرنو إِليَّ عَلى رُعبٍ يُخامِرُها

تَلَفُّتَ الظَّبيِ حينَ اِعتادَهُ الوَجَلُ

They glance at me in fearful apprehension,

Like a gazelle when alarmed by a predator.

وَلِي إِلَيها وَإِن خِفتُ العِدا نَظَرٌ

أَلْوِي لَهُ الجيدَ أَحياناً إِذا غَفَلوا

And though I fear hostility, I still look their way,

Inclining my neck if they’re unaware.

وَكَيفَ يُجدي عَلى الصَّادي تَلَفُّتُهُ

إِلى مَناهِلَ سُدَّتْ دونَها السُّبُلُ

Yet how can my glancing aid one who is barred,

From springs beyond reach, roads blocked?

نأَت وَلَم تَكُ نَفسي بَعدَ فُرقَتِها

تَرجو الحَياةَ وَلكن أُخِّرَ الأَجَلُ

We come, yet after parting, my soul still unsated,

Seeks life, though its time is deferred.