عَوى في سَوادِ اللَيلِ عافٍ لَعَلَّهُ
يُجابُ وَأَنّى وَالدِيارُ عَوافي
He yearned in the darkness of night though unwell, perhaps
His call will be answered, but how when home is far?
وَلَيسَ إِذا الحُسّادُ كانَت عُيونَهُمُ
شَوافِنَ لِلداءِ الدَفينِ شَوافي
Not so, when the envious have eyes
That are eager to see a harmless man suffer.
صَوافِنُ خَيلٍ عِندَ بابِ مُمَلَّكٍ
جُمِعنَ وَما أَوقاتُهُ بِصَوافي
Horses gathered at a king's door
Though it was not time for departure.
وَسِرُّكَ مِثلُ العِرسِ أَوفَت لِواحِدٍ
وَأَعوَزَها لِلصاحِبينَ تَوافي
Your secret is like a wedding that was meant for one
Yet was lacking for both companions.
وَأَسرارُ بَعضِ الناسِ باتَت لِناظِرٍ
كَأَسرارِ كَفٍّ غَيرِهِنَّ خَوافي
Some people's secrets seemed to the beholder
Like the secrets of another's hidden palm.
خَواتِمُ أَعمالِ الفَتى إِن بَغى الهُدى
هَدَتهُ وَإِلّا فَالهُمومُ ضَوافي
The seals of a man's deeds, if he seeks guidance,
Guide him, else worries throng him.
وَأَعمارُنا أَبياتُ شِعرٍ كَأَنَّما
أَواخِرُها لِلمُنشِدينَ قَوافي
Our lives are verses of poetry, as though
Their rhymed endings are for the reciters.
إِذا حَسُنَت زانَت وَإِن قَبُحَت جَنَت
أَذىً وَهَواً فيما يَسوءُ هَوافي
If good, they adorn, if bad, they hurt,
Evil and passion in what is ruined.
نَوى فِيَّ باغٍ ما يَضِرُّ وَدونَهُ
خُطوبٌ لِإيجابِ الحُقودِ نَوافي
A hater intended harm to me, while before him
Were calamities to affirm resentments.
وَكَم طالِبٍ وافى وَقَد شارَفَ الغِنى
سَوافِيَ ريحٍ فَاِنثَنى بِسُوافِ
How many desiring ones met with fortune though they neared
The winds of desolation that bowed them.
طَوافِيَ دُرٍّ يَمنَحُ الجَدُّ أَهلَهُ
بِرِفقٍ فَيَغني عَن سُرىً وَطَوافِ
The cycles of wealth bestow generosity on its people
With gentleness, so they have no need to roam.
حَوى في رَخاءٍ وادِعٌ فَضلَ نِعمَةٍ
عَداها مُكِلٌ وَالرِكابُ حَوافي
He found refuge in prosperity, content with grace,
While the unsuccessful blame their mounts.
