1. O Abu Khaled, you were once an avid swimmer in your youth,
But as you grew old, you settled by the shore.
١. أَبا خالِدٍ ما زِلتَ سَبّاحَ غَمرَةٍ
صَغيراً فَلَمّا شِبتَ خَيَّمتَ بِالشاطي
2. You were once a leading racehorse,
But then you started lagging, until you walked with the lame.
٢. وَكُنتَ جَواداً سابِقاً ثُمَّ لَم تَزَل
تُؤَخِّر حَتّى جِئتَ تَخطو مَعَ الخاطي
3. The higher you rise in status,
And the less effort you make for it,
٣. فَأَنتَ بِما تَزدادُ مِن طولِ رِفعَةٍ
وَتنقُصُ مِن جَدٍّ لِذاكَ بِإِفراطِ
4. You become like Abdullah's cat, sold for a dirham when young,
But when grown up, sold for a mere carat.
٤. كَسِنَّورِ عَبدِاللَهِ بيعَ بِدِرهَمٍ
صَغيراً فَلمّا شَبَّ بيعَ بِقيراطِ