1. أَما تُحَرَّكُ لِلأَقدارِ نابِضَةٌ

    أَما يُغَيَّرُ سُلطانٌ وَلا مَلَكُ

    Will no pulse of fate be stirred?

    Will neither sovereign nor king be changed?

  2. قَد هادَنَ الدَهرُ حَتّى لا قِراعَ لَهُ

    وَأَطرَقَ الخَطبُ حَتّى ما بِهِ حَرَكُ

    Time has indeed made a truce, till it does battle no more.

    And calamity has bowed its head, till not a stir remains in it.

  3. كُلٌّ يَفوتُ الرَزايا أَن يَقَعنَ بِهِ

    أَما لِأَيدي المَنايا فيهِمُ دَرَكُ

    Each eludes calamities before they can befall him.

    Can the hands of death not reach them?

  4. قَد قَصَرَ الدَهرُ عَجزاً عَن لِحاقِهِمُ

    فَأَينَ أَينَ ذَميلُ الدَهرِ وَالرَتَكُ

    Time has indeed fallen short, powerless to catch up with them.

    So where, where are Time's swift, easy gait and rapid trot?

  5. أَخَلَّتِ السَبعَةُ العُليا طَرايِقَها

    أَم أَخطَأَت نَهجَها أَم سُمِّرَ الفَلَكُ

    Have the seven on high abandoned their paths?

    Or have they strayed from their course, or has the celestial sphere been nailed fast?