يا حارِثِيَّ وَما العِتابُ بِجاذِبٍ

يا حارِثِيَّ وَما العِتابُ بِجاذِبٍ

لَكَ عَن مُعانَدَةِ الصَديقِ العاتِبِ

لَكَ عَن مُعانَدَةِ الصَديقِ العاتِبِ

O Harithi, reproach cannot draw

O Harith! Reproach is no cure for an estranged friend -

you away from defying the friend who reproaches you.

Your plots against him are endless, though he's the injured party.

ما إِن تَزالُ تَكيدُهُ مِن جانِبٍ

ما إِن تَزالُ تَكيدُهُ مِن جانِبٍ

أَبَداً وَتَسرُقُ شِعرَهُ مِن جانِبِ

أَبَداً وَتَسرُقُ شِعرَهُ مِن جانِبِ

You never cease scheming against him from one side,

You steal his affection, yet still he's true to your side -

and forever steal his poetry from the other.

For faithful friends, though hurt, will not break the tie.