أَمّا وَقَد بانوا فَلَم تَبِنِ

نَفسي فَما أَحسَنتَ في الحَزَنِ

Now that they have gone and my soul did not go

How beautiful was your sorrow!

يا رَبعُ وَاِستَبدَلتَ بَعدَهُمُ

وَسَكَنتَ بَعدَهُمُ إِلى سَكَنِ

O dwelling, you have been peopled after them

And inhabited after them in their stead

هَلّا خَلَوتَ كَما خَلا وَعَفا

رَسمٌ سِواكَ وَفى وَلَم يَخُنِ

Why did you not remain desolate as you did remain

When a form other than theirs fulfilled and was true and did not cheat?

وَاللَهِ ما اِستَحدَثتَ مِثلَهُمُ

حاشا لُوَجهِ شُرَيرَةَ الحَسَنِ

By God, you have not gained the like of them

Far be it from an evil face to have beauty!