وَمُهَفهَفِ الأَعطافِ يَشكو خَصرُهُ

مِن جَورِهِ شَكوايَ جَورَ زَماني

With tossing ribs he complains of the tyranny

Of my time, like my body, wasting away.

فَسَقامُ جَفنَيهِ كَسا جِسمي الضَّنى

وَجَفاؤُهُ سَلَبَ الكَرى أَجفاني

So my eyelids' sickness covers my frame with sorrow

And his coldness has deprived my eyes of sleep.

وَلَهُ عَلَيَّ يَدٌ تَمَلَّكَني بِها

حُبّاً وَما لي بِالسُلُوِّ يَدانِ

He has a hand that grabbed me with the love

That I have no power to resist.

لَم يُجرِ لي النَدمانُ يَوماً ذِكرَهُ

إِلّا عَضَضتُ أَنامِلَ النَدمانِ

Never did regret mention him one day

Without my gnawing the fingers of regret.

مُتَسَربِلٌ حُلَلَ المَحاسِنِ كُلَّها

لَكِنَّهُ عارٍ مِنَ الإِحسانِ

Clothed in beauty in its every raiment

Yet naked of all kindness.

لَو كانَ لي مالٌ لآثَرَ عِشرَتي

لَكِن لِإِقلالي الحَبيبُ قَلاني

Had I possessions, I would prefer my company with him

But out of my lack of means, the loved one avoids me.