تَنَكَّرَ بَعدَ البَينِ دارٌ وَجيرانُ

فَلا الدارُ ما كانَت وَلا القَومُ ما كانوا

After separation, a house and neighbors changed

Neither the house remained as it was, nor did the people remain as they were

أَبِن عَنكَ ذِكرَ الدارِ فَالدارُ أَهلُها

وَلا فَرقَ إِلّا أَن أَقامَت وَأَن بانوا

If you ask about the house, the house is its people

The only difference is that it stood still while they moved away

وَأَن سَجَعَت في الرَوضِ أَمسِ حَمائِمٌ

وَأَن نَعَبَت في القَفرَةِ الآنَ غِربانُ

Yesterday doves cooed in the garden

Today crows cawed in the ruins

عَلى أَن داراً إِذ تُظَلِّلُ جَنَّةٌ

وَأَنَّ دِياراً إِذ تُهَجِّرُ أَظعانُ

Though a house may cast shade like a garden

And homes become desolate places when deserted

فَإِن أَنِسَت في القُربِ مِنهُم مَجالِسٌ

فَقَد أَوحَشَتنا بِالتَباعُدِ جيرانُ

If their company brought us joy when near

Then their absence has estranged us, O neighbors!

لَقَد أَلِفَ الإِلفانِ أَصعَبَ فُرقَةٍ

مَضى وَمَضَت فيها زَمانٌ وَأَزمانُ

Parting from loved ones is the most difficult separation

Time passed, days went by

فَلَم يَجتَمِع في الكَفِّ جودٌ وَثَروَةٌ

وَلَم يَجتَمِع في الوَجهِ حُسنٌ وَإِحسانُ

Generosity and wealth never gather in one palm

Beauty and kindness never gather in one face

وَلَكِنَّ وَجهاً عِندَهُ الشَمسُ لَيلَةٌ

وَلَكِنَّ كَفّاً عِندَها البَحرُ غُدرانُ

Rather, one face to him is like the sun at night

While to her, his palm is like the deceitful sea