قُلْ لِي بِعَيْشِكَ هَلْ عَلى هَذا الجَفَا

تَبْقَى قُلُوبٌ أَوْ تَدُومُ عُقولُ

Tell me, will hearts or minds endure this estrangement?

Why did your cheek deal so unjustly in apportioning

ما بالُ خَدّكَ جَارَ في تَقْسِيمِهِ

لِي نارُهُ وَلِغَيْرِيَ التَّقْبِيلُ

Its flame for me, its kiss for another?

O you whose glances are lively as a spear—

يا طَرْفَهُ والرُّمْحُ فيه نَضَارَةٌ

فَعلامَ فِي حَدِّ السِّنانِ ذُبُولُ

Why then is the edge of your glance so blunt?

O you whom I made the pillar of our love—

يا مَنْ جَعَلْتُ إِخاءَهُ لِي عُدَّةً

فِي يَوْمِ يَدَّخِرُالخَلِيلَ خليلُ

One day the bosom's friend finds the bosom cold.

Why does your heart ignore the madness of passion?

مَا بَالُ قَلْبكَ ما دَعَتْهُ صَبابةٌ

مَا بَالُ دَمْعكَ ما عَراه هُمُولُ

Why do your tears disregard the call of ardor?

Where is the affection? It is so rare.

أَيْنَ المَودَّةُ إِنَّهَا لَعزِيزةٌ

أَيْنَ التَّودُّدُ إِنَّهُ لَقَليلُ

Where is the intimacy? It is so little.

Where is the sympathizer for the afflicted by passion?

أَيْنَ المُعينُ عَلى الصَّبَابةِ أَهْلَها

لِيَخِفَّ عِبْءُ الوَجْدِ فَهْوَ ثَقِيلُ

To lighten the burden of anguish, for it is heavy.

Where is the one who bears the traits of Mohammed?

أَيْنَ الَّذي يَحْوي صِفَات مُحَمَّدٍ

هَيْهاتَ عَزَّ فَما إِلَيهِ سَبِيلُ

Alas he is difficult to attain, no path leads to him.