عادَ رَسولي فَقُلتُ ما جَرى

قالَ أُمورٌ طَويلَةُ الشَرحِ

My messenger returned, so I asked "What happened?"

He said "Matters too long to explain."

مَتى رَأَيتَ المُحِبَّ مُلتَفِتاً

إِلى الأَحاديثِ مِن ذَوي النُصحِ

When did you see a lover paying attention

To the advice of well-wishers?

أَنَّبتَ ظُلماً وَلَستُ أَسمَحُ أَن

تَقولَ هَذا فَلَستُ بِالسَمحِ

You have wronged me, yet I'm not inclined

To say "You're wrong," since I'm not vindictive.

ما جِئتَ إِلّا بِالمِلحِ تَقصِدُ أَن

يُذيبَني المِلحُ في فَمِ الجُرحِ

You came only with salt, intending that

The salt dissolve me in the mouth of my wound.