1. دب البلى فيه وهو حيّ

    فما على الأرض منه شي

    Decay crept into him while he was still alive,

    so nothing of him is left upon the earth

  2. إلا خيالا إذا تمشّى

    أو شبحٌ في القميص حي

    except a phantom when he walks,

    or a living specter in the shirt.

  3. طوته أيّامه الخوالي

    فما له في الشموس في

    His bygone days have folded him up,

    so he has no shadow beneath the suns.