وَساعة بِلِسان الحال قائِلَة

وَساعة بِلِسان الحال قائِلَة

لَما تَمَثل في أَجزائِها الفلك

لَما تَمَثل في أَجزائِها الفلك

And a clock spoke in the language of its state,

And an hour speaks with the tongue of circumstance

when the celestial sphere took form in its parts:

When the celestial sphere appears through its parts

الناس تحسب ساعاتي وَما عَلِموا

الناس تحسب ساعاتي وَما عَلِموا

بِأَن أَعمارهم تَمضي وَما مَلَكوا

بِأَن أَعمارهم تَمضي وَما مَلَكوا

“People count my hours, yet they have not realized

People think my hours, though they know not

that their lifetimes—and what they own—are passing away.”

That their lives pass and they have no control