1. Life is like fleeting shadows
Is there a shadow without fading away?

2. And the truth cannot be hidden
We flee from certainty to the impossible

3. We are deceived in this life
It pretends to be beautiful when it has lost its beauty

4. A union that is feared to end sours the connection
When we are given it, we suffer in the bond

5. The thirsty mistake its mirage for water
And how often the thirsty were deluded by a mirage

6. So one who is thirsty is not refreshed
While another chokes on pure water

7. In the days there are lessons and reminders
That benefit the wise among men

8. It threatened kings, so it made them surrender
Their palaces to mounds of sand

9. They were forcibly deprived of the bliss of life
It passed like a phantom of the imagination

10. The claws of death did not spare them
Neither the most eloquent nor the darkest skinned

11. When you ask the dwellings of a people about them
The echo responds to your question

12. Those tongues of the past, in their prime
Death has silenced with stillness

13. Eloquence has descended and resided in Qays
And used to flow like a torrent with speech

14. You masters of speech, for what purpose
Have you abandoned your lawful magic?

15. Surely your eloquence does not fail you
When you speak with the tongue of the state

16. You admonish, though we have indulged
And no admonition has occurred to you

17. We are arrogant with ourselves and overtaken
By the causes of our ruin, so everything expensive becomes cheap

18. We prepare with hopes and wishes
Armies that do not fight sincerely

19. How can the army of hopes win
When the nights chase it and defeat it?

20. How many lovers has it made desolate in their beloved
Separating them, sad and unquestioning

21. In his heart it ignited fires of grief and sorrow
With the separation of the living, spring of isolation

22. He watched the flowers of wild mustard
Of which he was enamored in his imagination

23. The gleam disquieted him when it appeared
Like lightning in Mount Salma and Dhal

24. The dwellings of the family of Layla
When her dwellings became visible on the hills

25. Yes, every gathering leads to separation
And the goal of every bond is detachment

26. Umm Al-Baneen cast the flowers aside
Grieving for glory and nobility

27. Veiled, she represented her modesty
Her chastity the finest example

28. Her chambers were filled with virtues
Yet she shone while clad in rags

29. She was adorned with pottery, no blame to her
If she was destitute while the pride was her state

30. The purity of her bosom more fragrant than her scent
With the perfume of praise, not madder

31. Were it not for virtue she would not have gained
The praise of the revered, of high rank

32. But merit has prestige
Whether among women or men

33. A generous people who gave birth to nobles
They are the most honorable people

34. All of them deserve to be clad
In the garb of sovereignty and majesty

35. Al-Ablaj quenches thirst with the dew of his hands
Torrents of rain and heavy clouds

36. He welcomes delegations with bright smiles
Protected glory, abundant wealth

37. The seeker of hope takes refuge in him
When hopes are dashed in pieces

38. In years of drought, he has a hand
That rescues the starving from death

39. Its achievements close every path
To deficiencies, rising to perfection

40. Calamities gather around him, but he is not
In a field of panic or indifference

41. So he should not be counted among the misfortunes of the days
Far be it! Only among their glories

42. He was brought up by every noble of Quraysh
Whose guidance illuminates the darkness

43. His forehead with sorrows is like
A pillar of dawn or crescent moon

44. Of the eminent people who raised a minaret
With faith, flaming and gleaming

45. They paved for us the path of great deeds
And exemplified for us the generosity of actions

46. From them we learned patience in afflictions
Though attaining their patience is difficult

47. O best of branches, are you not most deserving
Of the traits the roots exemplified?

48. The trials of fate test profoundly
But you do not meet trials with celebration

49. Your resolve is firmer than white swords
Your forbearance greater than mountains

50. Take pride, for in God's pride there is spirit
And triumph with abundant reward

51. And every tragedy, when you
Remain for us, is happiness and blessing