عَلى أَيِّ غَرسٍ آمَنُ الدَهرَ بَعدَما

رَمى فادِحَ الأَيّامِ في الغُصُنِ الرَطبِ

On what branch did time believe after

The calamitous days threw down the moist twig?

ذَوى قَبلَ أَن تَذوي الغُصونُ وَعَهدُه

قَريبٌ بِأَيّامِ الرَبيلَةِ وَالخِصبِ

Its promise faded before the twigs faded

Its days are near, of springtime and fertility.

كَفى أَسَفاً لِلقَلبِ ما عِشتُ أَنَّني

بِكَفّي عَلى عَيني حَثَوتُ مِنَ التُربِ

It's enough of sorrow that I've lived, for I

With my palms upon my eyes, scooped dust.

جَرَت خُطرَةٌ مِنها وَفي القَلبِ عَطشَةٌ

رَفَعتُ لَها رَأسي عَنِ البارِدِ العَذبِ

An idea flashed in me, and thirst in my heart -

I raised my head from the cold fresh water.

وَقُلتُ لِجَفي رُدَّ دَمعاً عَلى دَمٍ

وَلِلقَلبِ عالِج قَرحَ نَدبٍ عَلى نَدبِ

And I said to my arid eyes, shed a tear on blood

And for my heart find a cure, wound on wound.

وَمِمّا يُطيبُ النَفسَ بَعدَكَ أَنَّني

عَلى قَرَبٍ مِن ماءِ وِردِكَ أَو قُربِ

And of what makes the soul happy after you is that

I am near water from your roses or tomb.

أَلا لا جَوىً مُسَّ الفُؤادَ كَذا الجَوى

وَلا ذَنبَ عِندي لِلزَمانِ كَذا الذَنبِ

Alas no love touched my heart like that love

Nor do I blame time like that blame.

خَلا مِنكَ طَرفي وَاِمتَلا مِنكَ خاطِري

كَأَنَّكَ مِن عَيني نَقَلتَ إِلى قَلبي

Except for you my glances are empty and my thoughts full

As if from my eyes you carried me to my heart.