1. I said to my soul, whose ray I fold:
How long will knocking be at every silent door?

2. It's time to disobey greedy hopes -
And despair, which gathers my scattered parts, obeys.

3. The eager man passes away and doesn't pass an inheritance,
Always excusing himself with a false excuse.

4. Say to those I tested and found
Worthless, while the worthy drinks my tears.

5. I prepared you to defend me from every misfortune,
Yet you became the aid of every misfortune.

6. I made you a shield around me, but it was as if
The enemy saw my fighters through my shield.

7. A reputation that makes the envious sick with anguish,
And when we triumph over an enemy, exult.

8. Fruits refused to be generous,
And its branches are the scum of the planter.

9. When I aimed my hopes at you,
The bowl churned, disturbing my calm.

10. And I stood before you like one destined
To die, hoping for safety.

11. One foot takes you there, another draws me
Away from you, though the wise stay firm.

12. Without misfortunes, I'd not gain experience -
The tender branch would not fruit, or the trunk grow stout.

13. Despair bent the path of my hopes away from you
And turned my steed's neck toward home.

14. I've no excuse but my leaving you -
For when I go, despair of my return!

15. So I'll leave without looking back,
Not eager for our parting, never glancing back.

16. And I'll shake my hands of you in despair
As the bereaved shake dust off a corpse.

17. I'll shine my verses on each outcast night
Like flash of sword in a worshipper's right hand.

18. From every rhyme that yearns to you
My steed bolts off with a loose rein.

19. And I say to the heart disputing your love:
Shorten your passion - blame yourself, blame yourself!

20. Shall I jostle one who won't bend, prod one
Who won't be guided, blame one who won't regret?

21. O lost hope, which I aimed
Greedily at people - O my lost self!

22. Ships sailed, bending with their prows
Like camels' necks, swaying gracefully.

23. A people who, when present at an assembly, disgrace it -
Their ships sneeze though unprovoked.

24. O Time, enough! My warriors you have stricken -
You always seek my pride through destiny's decrees.

25. Why should I complain of any but you for what Fate wreaked?
Decree after decree, and you're my affliction!