قفا أخوي إن الدّارَ لَيسَت

كَما كانَت بِعَهدِكما تَكون

Stand still, my brother, for this abode is not

As it used to be in your days.

لَيالي تَعلمان وَآل لَيلى

قَطين الدار فَاِحتَمَل القَطين

Nights pass on, teaching other nights,

The cats of the house endured the cats.

فَعوجا فَاِنظُر اتبين عَمّا

سَأَلناها بِهِ ام لا تَبين

So wander and look well to see

If what we asked her about is clear or not clear.

فَظلا واقِفَين وَظل دَمعي

عَلى خَدّي تَجودُ بِهِ الجُفون

So we stood as my tears

Flowed down my cheeks from weeping eyes.

فَلَولا اِذ رَأَيت الياس مِنها

بَدا اِن كِدتَ تَرشُقُكَ العُيون

If only when hopelessness of her appeared to you

You almost shot out your eyes.

بَرِحت فَلَم يَلمك الناسُ فيها

وَلم تَغلَق كَما غِلق الرَهين

You would have left and people would not blame you

Nor would you be shut in like a hostage.