هل الحبُّ إلاَّ ما أذاب حشا الصبِّ

فإن لم تذبْ فيه فلا خيرَ في الحبِّ

Is love anything but what melts the hardness of youth?

If it does not melt you, there is no good in love.

وخيرُ خليليكَ الصفيين من صفا

لك الودُّ منه في بعادك والقرب

The best of your intimate friends is the purest one,

Whose affection remains in your absence and presence.

على النأي يمسي ذا جفونُ كأنّما

تكلَّف أن يحصي بها عدد الشهب

Though far, he stays up at night as if

He tries to count the stars with his eyelids.

ولا خير في ود امرئٍ تستديمه

بعتبٍ وأوشك أن يزول مع العتب

There is no good in the affection of one

Whom you constantly reproach, and he is about to disappear with the reproach.

ألم ترني أصفيتُ ودِّي لماجدٍ

كأَنَّ على ما نابني قلبُه قلبي

Have you not seen me being faithful in my love for Majid

As if his heart has turned into mine for what has afflicted me?