ما أَسرَعَ البَينَ بَل ما أَسرَعَ الفَرَحا

إِن كُنتُ أَرجو كَما أَخشى فَلا حَرَجا

How swiftly separation came, yet how swiftly joy fled,

If I hoped as I feared, then no blame on me.

ما أم واحِد أمٍ لا أَنيسَ لَها

إِلَّا الَّذي رَسَخت بِالأَمسِ فَاِختَلَجا

What ails a lonely mother with no friend

Save one whose pangs the past eve but stirred?

باتَت وَباتَ لَها هَمٌّ يُؤَرِّقُها

من عالج في بَناتِ القَلبِ قَد وَشَجا

She tossed, and with her a care that racked her soul

Seeking cure for the heart's hurt till it festered.

إِلَّا كَمِثلي وَإِن جَلَّت رَزِيتُّها

إِذا أَزعَجَ البَينُ مَن أَهواهُ فَاِنزَعَجا

I am hapless, yet far hap- lier than she

When severance left my love distraught and sleepless.

نَظَرتُ يَومَ تَوَلَّت نَظرَةً عَرَضاً

وَجَدتُ في كَبِدي مِن حَرِّها وَهَجا

One day when she glanced back with passing look

I found in my heart, from her mischief, embers.

بِمُقلَةٍ كُلَّما كَفكَفتُ دَمعَتَها

هاجَت مَذاوِبها بِالدَّمعِ فَاِعتَلَجا

With a glance, whenever I check its tearfulness,

Its injuries gush forth tears in frenzy.

كَأَنَّها عارِضٌ مُخضَوضِلٌ هَزِجٌ

هاجَت لَهُ حَرجَفٌ حَصباءُ فَاِنبَعَجا

As if it were a maiden camel, aroused, excited, stirred up,

Whose grumbling camel-maids have been excited.

تَاللَّهِ ما عَصَفَت ريح شَآمِيَةٌ

إِلَّا تَنَسَّمتُ مِنها ريحَكَ الأَرَجا

By God, no eastern wind has blown,

Except I sensed from it your fragrance.

وَلا سَنا البَرقُ لي مِن نَحو دارِكُم

إِلَّا تَنَعَّشتُ وَاِستَقبَلتُهُ بَهِجا

No lightning flashed for me from your abode,

Except I greeted it joyfully, revived.