1. أَلَم تَرَيا أَنَّ المَنايا مُحيطَةٌ

    بِكُلِّ ثَنايا الأَرضِ أَصبَحنَ رُصَّدا

    Have you two not seen that the fates of death encompass

    Every corner of the earth, having become watchmen lying in wait?

  2. لَعَمري لَئِن أَصبَحتُ أَعمى لَقَد أُرى

    بَصيراً وَلَكِن لَيسَ شَيءٌ مُخَلَّدا

    By my life, though I have become blind, I once could see

    With sight; but nothing is made everlasting.

  3. وَمازالَ صَرفُ الدَهرِ يَوماً وَلَيلَةً

    يَكُرّانِ لي حَتّى مَشيتُ مُقَيَّدا

    The vicissitudes of time—day and night—have never ceased

    Returning against me, until I walked in chains.