ما ضَرّ من صدَّني لو زارني كرماً

وهل عليه إذا ما زار من باسِ

It would not harm me if he who was gracious visited me,

And is it really his fault if when he visited he was aloof?

حلو الشمائلِ مُرّ الهجر معتدلِ

رطْب المعاطف لكنْ قلبُه قاسِي

Sweet of features, bitter of estrangement, moderate,

Moist of cloak, but his heart is harsh,

معذِّبٌ مهجتي والقلبُ في يدهِ

يا قلبُ إن لم يزر مرَّ الهوى قاسِ

Tormenting my love while my heart is in his hands.

O heart, if bitter love does not visit, be aloof,

دع عنك هذا الجفا وأرحم فؤاد شجٍ

ولا تُطع مَن وشى يا أحسنُ الناسِ

Leave this aloofness and have mercy on a broken heart,

And do not obey the slanderer, O best of people.