1. These are the dwellings, now they are desolate,
Once lush, now withered and faded,

2. Disguised are their homes,
As if they were never themselves,

3. And I once stood in them when they
Were as they should be,

4. And I asked these ruins
About their erstwhile inhabitants,

5. It is impossible that ruins
Could give me any answers,

6. Where are those I once knew
Their clubs were filled with them

7. Discussing lofty thoughts,
Their tents were like white clouds

8. Spread out,
Their spears erect

9. Like the steeds of flowing manes,
Then the shepherds called out

10. Behind the raging torrents,
And the horses turned to ghosts

11. In those abandoned places,
You see them above the sands

12. Like lions in the hunt,
Veiled and covered

13. Clothed in mourning,
Clutching the bonds

14. Of days gone by,
The people of politics, nobility

15. and raiding tribes,
The people of glory, armies

16. and formidable forces,
Their armies and lofty citadels

17. could not protect them,
Hearts forgot ambition

18. and death spares no one,
The shadow of death descended

19. Upon them, none can escape it,
I went to a house, all its inhabitants

20. were naught but dry bones,
No visitor comes by

21. or answers a caller,
After people, only an empty house remains,

22. They were transformed from nobility
to vagabonds with staffs,

23. The worms scatter the bones
of the slender-waisted,

24. Had you met them just nights ago,
You’d veil your face from them,

25. And refuse to recognize faces
That once shone with beauty,

26. Now they are bones in their graves,
With grieving hearts,

27. Awaiting the first blow of the trumpet,
and then the second,

28. Ah, that blow which will gather
together fallen bodies,

29. And reveal their hidden secrets,
In it will fly the centuries

30. and bygone eras,
The fortunate will succeed by it

31. and go to lofty castles,
Amidst flowing rivers

32. by the gardens of Eden,
And wide-eyed maidens

33. like radiant moons,
Amid couches and carpets

34. and clear yards,
Its fruits are for the saints

35. who worshipped in truth,
Where angels visit them,

36. greeting their friends,
Such is their reward for days

37. now long past,
But the wretch, it will cast him

38. into the pit,
With fiery flames,

39. and fierce guardians,
It takes him to its deepest bottom,

40. where he will cry:
"Woe to me! Would that

41. I had not lived and died poor,
Would that death had taken me

42. before my appointed time,
Then I'd not be given my record

43. in my left hand,
Nor face the pain of reckoning,

44. If only I knew I'd return
after the end of my life,

45. I'd ready myself for the moment
of my death."

46. The wretch said, as they dragged him into it:
"Woe to you wicked ones in degradation!

47. In it you have but scorching flames!"
And the bites of serpents

48. like lofty palm trees,
And scorpions like camels,

49. and birds of prey,
"This is the abode which you were promised endless!

50. Not like your first home which perished!
O Lord, I repent all my sins,

51. And to you I repent my disobedience,
My hope in you is salvation,

52. so fulfill my wish,
Forgive my past sins,

53. my intentional and mistaken ones,
And guide me to your acceptance,

54. make your forgiveness my provision,
I call onto you O Lord, so listen

55. and answer my call,
Lighten my burden,

56. and grant me well-being,
And make my path safe

57. wherever I may wander,
Be it sea or barren desert,

58. O Lord, you know my inner secrets,
In Muscat though my body resides

59. my wings are folded,
I have no true friend here,

60. though we dwell in the same place,
I have but an afflicted heart,

61. that has abandoned blissful sleep,
Distant from family, friends or homeland,

62. To you I complain, and plaints
are fitting for the noble,

63. So choose for me, O God, what
you wish for me and my comrades,

64. And guide us rightly on the path,
O Lord, make it easy,

65. And bless me quickly with facilitation,
my God,

66. And bless Muhammad most virtuous
of prayers,

67. And all the prophets and their offspring,
one after the other,

68. However much the sand grouse called
no welcome answers came."