إِذا أَوحَشَتْنِي جَفوةُ الخِلِّ رَدّني

إِذا أَوحَشَتْنِي جَفوةُ الخِلِّ رَدّني

إِليهِ وَفاءٌ بالإخاءِ ضَنِينُ

إِليهِ وَفاءٌ بالإخاءِ ضَنِينُ

When my friend's coldness leaves me lonely, I am drawn back

When the dryness of friendship makes me desolate

To him by loyalty that jealously guards our brotherhood.

Loyalty with fraternity brings me back

كأَنّيَ أَمّ البَوّ تُنْكرُ شَخْصَهُ

كأَنّيَ أَمّ البَوّ تُنْكرُ شَخْصَهُ

وَيعطِفُها وَجدٌ بِهِ وَحَنينُ

وَيعطِفُها وَجدٌ بِهِ وَحَنينُ

As though I were the mother of a calf effigy, not recognizing its form,

As if I am a mother who denies her son

And love for it and yearning draw her back.

Yet fondness for him returns her with yearning