1. صديقٌ لي تَنَكَّرَ بعد وُدٍّ

    وأُمُّ الغَدرِ في الدُّنيا وَلودُ

    A friend of mine grew estranged after affection,

    And the mother of treachery in this world is prolific.

  2. أراهُ مَلالُه حَسَني قبيحاً

    فصدَّ وأيسَرُ الغَدرِ الصُّدودُ

    His weariness made him see my goodness as ugly,

    So he turned away—and turning away is the easiest form of treachery.

  3. وذَمّ اليومَ ما حَمدتْه منّي

    تجارِبُه وأمس بِه شهيدُ

    And today he condemned what had been praised in me

    By his experiences—and yesterday bears witness to it.

  4. ولستُ ألومُه فيما أَتَاهُ

    أساءَ فرابَهُ الفِعلُ الحميدُ

    And I do not blame him for what he did:

    He did wrong, so praiseworthy conduct made him suspicious.

  5. وقد يَجِدُ المريضُ الماءَ مرّاً

    بفيهِ وهْو سلسالٌ بَرودُ

    And a sick person may find water bitter

    In his mouth, though it is sweet and cool.