يا صاحبيَّ تنجّزا عِدَةً

من صائد الألباب والمُقَلِ

O my friend, fulfill the promises

Made by the wise and the sagacious

عِدةُ النّوى غيرُ الوفاءِ بها

والقولُ مُطَّرَحٌ بلا عملِ

Promises of intent differ from keeping them

And words are cast without action

قولا له والقولُ مطعمةٌ

للعتْب في أسماحِ ذي بُخُلِ

Say something to him, though words

Are bait for rebuke from the miserly

يا فارغاً لا وَجْدَ يَسكنه

حتّى متى أنَا منك في شُغُلِ

O you with no fervor to occupy you

How long will I be busy away from you

يا منْ يَضِنّ بكلّ نافعةٍ

حتّى يَضِنَّ عليَّ بالأملِ

O you who is miserly with all that is good

Even miserly with hope for me

لو شئتَ عدتَ إلى مواصلةٍ

وزيارةٍ حالتْ ولم أحُلِ

If you wished, you would return to friendship

And visit, though conditions have changed and I did not