ألستAre you not ترىseeing استراقthe stealing away of الدهرTime حظيmy share
ألست ترى استراق الدهر حظي
وكيفand how يفيتcauses loss فيin أدبliterary learning الخمولobscurity
وكيف يفيت في أدب الخمول
Do you not see Time stealing away my share,
Do you not see fate stealing my fortune,
and how obscurity brings loss in literary learning?
And how it squanders in idleness?
أأبغيshall I seek العونhelp منهfrom it وهوthough it is خصميmy foe
أأبغي العون منه وهو خصمي
كماjust as استبكتasked to weep ضرائرهاher co-wives الثكولthe bereaved mother
كما استبكت ضرائرها الثكول
Shall I seek help from it, though it is my foe,
Shall I seek aid from my enemy,
as a bereaved mother asked her co-wives to weep?
As the orphan weeps for her miseries?
Sol 6.1