لي في الحِمى خِلٌّ خَلا عَن نيّةٍ

لَم تَخل مِن كَرَم وَحُسن طَويّةِ

I have a friend who feigned affection

Though not lacking in generosity or grace

وَعَلى عُهودٍ بَيننا عَربيَّةٍ

ما زالَ يَحلف لي بِكُلِّ أَلِيّةِ

And swore on covenants between us as Arabs

Every oath conceivable to always stand by me

أن لا يَزال مَدى الزَمان مُصاحبي

حَتّى إِذا خانَ الظلومُ بِعَهدِهِ

That he would remain my companion forever

But when the traitor broke his word

أَضحى يَجورُ عَلى المُحبِّ بِصَدّهِ

فَجَنى الكَذوبُ وَمِن تَجاوُزِ حَدِّهِ

He wronged his lover by his rejection

And reaped the harvest of his lies and transgression

لَمّا جَنى نَزل العذار بِخَدّهِ

فَتَعَجّبوا لِسَوادِ وَجهِ الكاذِبِ

When he reaped this, shame marked his cheek

And they wondered at the blackness on the liar's face