إِلَى أَىِّ حِينٍ أَنتَ ضَارِبُ غَمرَةٍ

مِنَ الجَهلِ لاَ يُسلِيكَ نَأيٌ وَلاَ قُربُ

To what end are you struck by a veil of ignorance

That no distance consoles you, nor closeness brings relief?

تَهِيمُ بِلَيلَى لاَ نَوَالٌ تُنِيلُهُ

وَلاَ رَاحَةٌ مِمّن تَذُكُّرُهُ نَصبُ

You roam confused for Layla, with no union to attain,

No respite from the one whose memory brings you grief.

هَوَاها هَوىً قَد عَادَ مَكنُونُهُ جَوىً

ومَرعىً لِبَاغِى الخَيرِ مِن وَصلِهَا جَدبُ

In passion for her, desire once hidden now lays bare

As pasture where goodness from her union is made barren.

وهَجرُ سُلَيمَى مُستَبِينٌ طرِيقُهُ

وَمَسلَكُهُ وَعرٌ إِذا رُمتَهُ صَعبُ

Estrangement from Sulaima is a clear path in its course,

Yet its way is craggy when you seek to draw near.

لَوَ أَنَّ سُلَيمَى يُعقِبُ البُخلَ جُودُها

كَما لِسُلَيمَى مِن مَوَدَّتِهَا عَقبُ

If only Sulaima's frugality gave way to generosity,

As she has affection for Sulaima that comes after.

وَعَائِبَةٍ سَلمَى إِلَينا وَمَالَنَا

إِلَيها سِوَى الوَصلِ الَّذِى بَينَنا ذَنبُ

When Sulaima made peace with us and inclined toward us,

What fault but the bond between us could there be?

وَمَا تَستَوِى سَلمَى وَلاَ مَن يَعِيبُهَا

إِلَينا كَما لاَ يسَتَوِى المِلحُ وَالعَذبُ

Sulaima and the one who finds fault with her are not equal.

Just as the salty and the sweet can never equal be.