أَبا الْفَضْلِ كَيْفَ تَناسَيْتَنِي

وَما كنْتَ تَعْدِلُ نَهْجَ الرَّشادِ

O Abu al-Fadl, how could you forget me

When you did not follow the path of righteousness?

فَأَوْرَدْتَ قَوْماً رِواءَ الصُّدُورِ

وَحَلأْتَ مِثْلِي وَإِنِّي لَصادِ

You brought close those with plentiful hearts

While preventing the likes of me, though I am sincere

لَقَدْ أَيْأَسَتْنِيَ مِنْ وُدِّكَ الْ

حَقِيقَةُ إِنْ كانَ ذا بِاعْتِمادِ

The truth has made me despair of your affection

If this was done with intent

مَنَحْتُكَ قَلْبِي وَعانَدْتُ فِي

كَ مَنْ لا يَهُونَ عَلَيْهِ عِنادِي

I gave you my heart and obstinately resisted

Those who would not tolerate my obstinacy

أَظَلُّ نَهارِيَ وَالْحاسِدُوكَ

كَأَنِّي وَإِيّاهُمُ في جَهادِ

I spend my days while your enviers

Act as though they and I are at war

وَيُجْدِبُ ظَنِّيَ فِيمَنْ أَوَدُّ

وَظَنِّيَ فِيكَ خَصِيبُ الْمَرادِ

And my hopes in those I love wither

While my hopes in you thrive and flourish

إِلى أَنْ رَأَيْتُ جَفاءً يَدُ

لُّ أَنَّ اعْتِقادَكَ غَيْرُ اعْتِقادِي

Until I saw aloofness indicating

That your beliefs are not my beliefs

فَيا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَبْلَها

شَغَفْتُ بِحُبِّكَ يَوْماً فُؤادِي

Oh, would that before this

My heart had never been impassioned by loving you

فَإِنَّ الْقَطِيعَةَ أَشْهى إِلَيَّ

إِذا أَنا لَمْ أَنْتَفِعْ بِالْوِدادِ

For estrangement is more agreeable to me

When affection brings me no benefit

بَلَوْتُ الأَنامَ فَما رَأَيْتُ

خَلِيلاً يَصِحُّ مَعَ الاِنْتِقادِ

I have tested people, but found no friend

Whose friendship withstands reproach

وَلَوْ لا شَماتَةُ مَنْ لامَنِي

عَلَى بَثِّ شُكْرِكَ في كلِّ نادِ

Were it not for the gloating of those who blamed me

For spreading thanks for you in every club

وَقَوْلُهُمُ وَدَّ غَيْرَ الْوَدُودِ

فَجُوزِي عَلَى قربه بالبعاد

And their saying that one who is unfriendly loves not

I would reward nearness with distance

لما كنت من بعد نيل الصفا

لأرغب في النّائِلِ الْمُسْتَفادِ

Had I not attained sincerity after struggle

I would not desire the useful attainment

وَما بِيَ أَنْ يَرْدَعَ الشَّامِتِينَ

وِصالُكَ بِرِّي وَحُسْنَ افْتقِادِي

It is not for me to restrain the mockers

By maintaining contact and excellently visiting you

وَلكِنْ لِكَيْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّنِي

شَكَرْتُ حَقِيقاً بِشُكْرِ الأَيادِي

Rather, it is so they may know that I

Truly gave thanks, as thanks are due

وَلَمْ أَمْنَحِ الْحَمْدَ إِلاّ امْرَأً

أَحَقَّ بِهِ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْعِبادِ

And I did not express thanks except to one

More deserving of it than all people

وَما كُنْتَ لُوْ لَمْ أَعُمْ في نَداكَ

لأُثْنِي عَلَى الرَّوْضِ قَبْلَ ارْتِيادِي

You would not, had I not frequented your company

Hear me praise the garden before entering it

وَأَنَّكَ أَهْلٌ لأَنْ تَقْتَنِي

ثَنائِيَ قَبْلَ اقْتِناءِ الْعَتاِدِ

And that you deserve to gain my praise

Before acquiring possessions

فَلا يُحْفِظَنَّكَ أَنِّي عَتَبْتُ

فَتَمْنَعَنِي من بلوغ المراد

So do not let my reproach prevent you

From allowing me to attain what I desire

فإن البلاد إذا أجدبت

فما تَسْتَغِيثُ بِغَيْرِ الْعِهادِ

For if a land becomes barren

It cries out for none but the accustomed rain

إِذا ما تَجافى الْكِرامُ الشِّدا

دُ عَنّا فَمَنْ لِلْخُطُوبِ الشِّدادِ

When the generous turn away from us

Who then remains for the troubled?