1. إِنّي وَإِن كُنتُ أَبغي الحِلمَ آوِنَةً

    أَو أَمتَطيهِ لِما آتي وَما أَدَعُ

    Though at times I do seek forbearance,

    or take it as my mount in what I do and what I leave undone,

  2. فَما أحَمِّلُ صَبري فَوقَ طاقَتِهِ

    وَلا أكَلِّفُ قَلبي فَوقَ ما يَسَعُ

    I do not burden my patience beyond its capacity,

    nor task my heart beyond what it can bear.

  3. إِذا صَديقٌ نَبَت عَنّي جَوانِبُهُ

    وَغَرَّهُ الحِلمُ حَتّى غالَهُ الطَّمَعُ

    If a friend's sides turn away from me,

    and forbearance deludes him until greed undoes him,

  4. نَزَعتُ عَنهُ وَفي قَلبي نَوازِعُهُ

    خَيرٌ مِنَ الضَّيمِ أَن يَنتابَكَ الجَزَعُ

    I draw away from him, though my heart still feels his pull;

    better to be assailed by anguish than to endure humiliation.

  5. فَاذهَب طَليقاً فَفي الغَبراء مُطَّرِحٌ

    وَإِن ذَهَبتَ فَفي الإِخوانِ مُتَّسَعُ

    So go, unfettered: on the dusty earth is room to roam;

    and if you leave, among brothers there is ample room.