فكأنني ظمآن ضلَّ بقَفْزةٍ

حتى انتهى يأسا فصَابَ النِّيلا

As if I were a thirsty man who strayed

Until in despair he reached the Nile.

من بعد مطْلٍ حتى كاد أن

يَضْحى به رَبْعُ الرجاء بخيلا

After longing that had almost

Made a quarter of hope grow stingy,

وكأنّ مولاىَ اقتدى بمقالِ مَن

نَظم القَريضَ وأَغْرَبَ التأويلا

As if my Master followed the words of him

Who composed al-Qarid and gave strange interpretations—

لولا طِرادُ الخيل لم تكُ لذةٌ

فتَطارَدِى لي بالوصال قليلاً

Had the horses not pursued me, no delight would have

Chased me to join me for a little while.