وغيداء لا تنفكَ تمل عيونها

على النّاسِ من أسحار بابل ما تُملي

Her eyes never stop searching people

Since the dawns of Babylon, she does not tire

تناءَيت عنها وهي تَدعو إلى الّلقا

وأعرضتُ عنها وهي تدعو إلى الوصل

I turned away from her while she calls to meet

And I ignored her while she calls to reunite

وكلّفتُ نفسي عن هواها تَسَلّياً

وكم قد سلا بالمجد عن مثلها مثلي

And I busied myself away from her love

How often have the likes of me sought glory by turning away from the likes of her

فما خدعتني رقّةٌ من كلامها

ولا دلّ قلبي نحوها مَلَقُ الدلِّ

Neither the softness of her words deceived me

Nor did my heart incline towards her, slowed down by worries

ومن بالعُلى والمجد أصبح مغرماً

يصدّ لعمري عن سُعادٍ وعن جُملِ

And he who attained glory and prominence in the morning

Would prevent Sa'd and Jumail for my sake

أبى الله أن أمسي وأصبح هَادمَا

لما شادَ أبائي الأكارمُ من قبلي

God did not want me to destroy in the evening and morning

What my glorious forefathers built before me

وما زلتُ أبدي للزّمان تجلّداً

كأنّي عمّا نابني عنه في شُغلِ

And I continued to show endurance to time

As if I were too busy for what diverted me from it

أُقضّي زماني بالأماني تَعلّةً

فما سَمَري إلا عَسَانيَ أو عَلّي

I spend my time daydreaming as an excuse

So my night talks were none other than those with 'Asani or 'Ali

قرين هموم ليس أرجو لحلِّها

سوى الله ربّي مالكِ العقدِ والحلِّ

A friend of worries which I do not hope to solve

Except by God, my Lord, the owner of ties and solutions