1. نأى ففرَّق بين الطَرف والوسن

    وَأَلَّف البينُ بين القَلب والحزنِ

    He went far away, parting my eyes from slumber;

    And separation joined my heart to sorrow.

  2. فَيا رفيقيَّ لا أَعداكما شجني

    بِاللَه ربِّكما عُوجا على سكني

    O my two companions, may my sorrow never afflict you;

    By God, your Lord, turn aside to my beloved.

  3. وَعاتباه لعلَّ العتبَ يعطفُهُ

    وأَنشدا من نسيبي أَو نسيبكما

    And reproach him; perhaps reproach will soften him.

    And recite some of my love poetry, or your own.

  4. وكنّيا عن غَرامي في نشيدكما

    فإن صَبا فاِذكراني لا رُزئتكما

    And allude to my passion in your song;

    If he inclines to love, mention me—may I never lose you both.

  5. وعرِّضا بي وقولا في حديثكما

    ما بالُ عبدك بالهجران تُتلفُهُ

    And hint at me, and say in your conversation:

    “What of your servant, whom you destroy through estrangement?

  6. اِرحَمه من عبرات فيك واكفةٍ

    ومهجة بغليل الوَجدِ لاهفة

    Have mercy on him for tears that stream for you,

    And a heart anguished by passion’s burning thirst,

  7. شَوقاً لأَيّام أنس منك سالفةٍ

    فإن تبسَّم قولا في ملاطفَة

    Yearning for bygone days of intimacy with you.”

    If he smiles, say gently:

  8. ما ضرَّ لو بوصالٍ منك تسعفهُ

    وَهُوَ الَّذي بك طولَ الدهر مكتئبُ

    “What harm would it do to grant him relief through union with you,

    When he is forever sorrowful because of you,

  9. وَقَلبُه بسعير الهجر يلتَهِبُ

    فإن تعطَّف فهو القصد والأربُ

    And his heart burns in the blaze of estrangement?”

    If he shows tenderness, that is the aim and desire;

  10. وإِن بدا لكما من وجهه غَضَبُ

    فغالِطاهُ وَقولا لَيسَ نعرفُهُ

    But if anger appears to you both upon his face,

    Then mislead him and say, “We do not know him.”