ما كُنتُ أَشعُرُ إِلّا مُذ عَرَفتُكُمُ

أَنَّ المَضاجِعَ تُمسي تُنبِتُ الإِبَرا

I had not felt, until I met you all,

That beds at night grow thorns from threadbareness.

لَقَد شَقيتُ وَكانَ الحَينُ لي سَبَباً

أَن عُلِّقَ القَلبُ قَلباً يُشبِهُ الحَجَرا

I suffered miseries, and he to me their cause-

My heart a heart turned into hardness.

قَد لُمتُ قَلبي وَأَعياني بِواحِدَةٍ

فَقالَ لي لا تَلُمني وَاِدفَعِ القَدَرا

I blamed my heart and being, in one,

Who said, “Do not blame me, confront what is destined!”

إِن أُكرِهِ الطَرفَ يَحسِر دونَ غَيرِكُمُ

وَلَستُ أُحسِنُ إِلّا نَحوَكِ النَظرا

“If I am forced to turn away, none but you

Can attract my glance and sight.”

قالوا صَبَوتَ فَلَم أُكذِب مَقالَتَهُم

وَلَيسَ يَنسى الصِبى إِن والِهٌ كَبِرا

They said, “You pine!” I did not deny their words.

An infant does not forget when elders forget.