1. خَليلَيَّ عوجا نَبكِ شَجواً عَلى الرَسمِ

    عَفا بَينَ وادٍ لِلعَشيرَةِ فَالحَزمِ

    My two friends, turn aside; let us weep in sorrow over the campsite's traces,

    Now faded between the valley of al-Ashirah and al-Hazm.

  2. خَليلَيَّ ما كانَت تَصادُ مَقاتِلي

    وَلا غُرَّتي حَتّى وَقَعتُ عَلى نُعمِ

    My two friends, my vital spots had never fallen prey,

    Nor my unguarded moments, until I encountered Nu'm.

  3. خَليلَيَّ حَتّى لُفَ حَبلي بِخادِعٍ

    مُوَقّىً إِذا يُرمى صَيودٍ إِذا يَرمي

    My two friends, until my cord was entwined with a deceiver,

    Shielded when shot at, a sure hunter when shooting.

  4. خَليلَيَّ إِن باعَدتُ لانَت وَإِن أَلِن

    تُباعِد فَما تُرجى لِحَربٍ وَلا سِلمِ

    My two friends, if I draw away, she softens; and if I soften,

    She draws away; neither war nor peace can be hoped for with her.

  5. خَليلَيَّ إِنَّ الحُبَّ أَحسِبُ قاتِلي

    فَقاضٍ عَلى نَفسي كَما قَد بَرى عَظمي

    My two friends, love, I think, will surely kill me,

    And so end my life, as it has already worn away my bones.

  6. خَليلَيَّ مَن يَكلَف بِآخَرَ كَالَّذي

    كَلِفتُ بِهِ يَدمُل فُؤاداً عَلى سُقمِ

    My two friends, whoever becomes enamored of another like the one

    I love heals a heart with sickness still within.

  7. خَليلَيَّ بَعضَ اللَومِ لا تَرحَلا بِهِ

    رَفيقَكُما حَتّى تَقولا عَلى عِلمِ

    My two friends, less reproach! Do not use it to burden

    Your companion until you speak with knowledge.

  8. خَليلَيَّ ما حُبٌّ كَحُبٍّ أُحِبُّهُ

    وَلا داءُ ذي حُبٍّ كَدائِي وَلا هَمّي

    My two friends, no love is like the love I bear,

    Nor any lover's illness like mine, nor any anguish like mine.

  9. خَليلَيَّ قَد أَعيا العَزاءُ فَخَفَّفا

    وَلا تُبدِيا لَومي فَيُنبيكُما جِسمي

    My two friends, solace is beyond me; so be gentle,

    And do not voice your blame of me, for my body will tell you both.

  10. خَليلَيَّ مُنّا لا تَكونا مَعَ العِدى

    وَما اللَومُ بِالمُسلي فُؤادي مِنَ الغَمِّ

    My two friends, be gracious; do not side with the enemies,

    And reproach does not relieve my heart of grief.

  11. خَليلَيَّ لَو يَرقى خَليلٌ مِنَ الهَوى

    رَقيتُ بِما يُدني النَوارَ مِنَ العُصمِ

    My two friends, if a lover could be charmed free of passion,

    I would be charmed with what draws the skittish white-footed mountain goats near.