أَحباب قَلبيَ جاروا في تَقلّبهم

وَذُقتُ مُرَّ التَجَنّي مِن تَجنّبهم

My beloved friends have wandered in their turning away,

And I have tasted the bitterness of their avoidance.

يا صاح إِن نِلتَ حَظّاً مِن تَقرُّبِهم

قُل لِلذين جَفوني إِذ لَهجت بِهم

O companion, if you gain closeness to them,

Tell those who shunned me when I spoke of them:

دون الأَنام وَخَير القَول أَصدقهُ

يا مالكين الحَشا مِنّي بِهيبَتِكُم

Above all people, truth is the best speech.

O you who awe me with your sternness,

وَمسعرين لَظى وَجدي بِغيبتكم

إِنّي وَإِن لَم تراعوا عَهد صحبتكم

And kindle my love with your distance,

Though you do not keep our companionship,

أحبّكم وَهلاكي في محبّتكُم

كَعابد النار يَهواها وَتحرقهُ

I love you, though in loving you lies my ruin,

Like a fire-worshipper in love with the flames that consume him.