أبا خالدٍ ظَنّي لتحفظَ غيبتي

وقد خابَ ظَنّي خيبةً إثْرَ خَيْبَةِ

Abu Khaled, I thought you would keep my absence secret

But my hopes were shattered, disappointment after disappointment

تطوفُ بنا ليلاً كمِثْلِ عَدُونا

وقَعْوَسْتَ داري ثم خَرّبتَ بُقْعَتي

You roam around me at night like an enemy

And you demolished my home, then ruined my land

وَتَبْتَزُّني مِن حيثُ أني غافلٌ

وتَجْتَاحُني حتى تناوشتَ طُرَّتي

You take me by surprise when I'm unaware

And you overwhelm me until you've torn my cloak

مرادُك مني غير ما أنا ضامرٌ

وتُوكزني حتى ترومَ مَنيَّتي

Your intention toward me is other than what I'm inferring

And you drive me until you intend my demise

وليس بالجارِ أن يُعاقبَ جارَهُ

ولو رابَهُ من فِعْلِهِ كلَّ رِيْبَةِ

It is not for a neighbor to punish his neighbor

Even if he doubts him, suspicion after suspicion

ولو ترعوي ما في ضميري من الجَفا

لأبديتَ لي لُطْفاً وساءتْكَ غُربتي

If you knew my inner thoughts of estrangement

You would show me kindness, and my alienation from you would cease

وَكَمْ صاحبٍ جاورتُهُ وصَحبتُهُ

ولما افْتَرقْنا ظَلَّ يَطْلُبُ صُحْبَتي

How many friends I lived with and accompanied

But when we parted, they continued to seek my company

وأنت تُواحِيني بما أنا كارهٌ

وتَسْطو عليَّ سطوةً بعدَ سطوةِ

While you antagonize me with what I detest

And you tyrannize me, oppression after oppression

وتُبْعِدُني في طَوْراً وأقْرَبْكَ تارةً

لعلي أنل أجْراً لصبرِي بمحنتي

You distance me for a while, and draw me near at times

Perhaps I will be rewarded for my patience in my tribulation