1. نأَوْا فأدنَتْكَ منهُمُ الذِّكَرُ

    ومثَّلتْهُم لقلبِك الفِكَرُ

    They went far away, yet memories drew you close to them.

    And thoughts pictured them to your heart.

  2. يَراهُمُ بالوِدَادِ قَلبِي على ال

    بُعْدِ وإن لم يُدركْهُمُ النّظَرُ

    My heart sees them with love, despite the

    distance, though sight has not reached them.

  3. وحَسرتي أنّني أنا المُعرضُ الن

    نائِي وما أعرَضوا ولا هَجرُوْا

    And my regret is that I myself am the one who turns away, the

    distant one; they neither turned away nor forsook me.

  4. بعُدْتُ عنهم إذ كلُّ عصرِهِمُ

    بهم ربيعٌ ولَيلهُ سَحَرُ

    I went far from them when all their time

    was spring through them, and its night the hour before dawn.

  5. ونافَستني الأيامُ فيهِم ومَجْ

    نى العيشِ دانٍ وروضُه نَضِرُ

    And the days vied with me for them, while the harvest

    of life was within reach, and its garden verdant.