1. أُعَاتِبُ دَهْراً لاَ يُصيخُ إلَى عَتْبِ

    وَأَسْأَلُهُ صَفْحاً وَمَالَي مِنْ ذَنْبِ

    I reproach Time, which pays no heed to reproach,

    and ask it for pardon, though I have done no wrong.

  2. وَأُعْلِنُ بِالشَّكْوَى إِلَى غَيْرَ رَاحِمٍ

    فَأَشْكُو وَقَدْ عَزَّ الْعَزَاءُ إِلَى رَبِّي

    And I voice my complaint to one who shows no mercy;

    so, with solace hard to find, I complain to my Lord.

  3. أَبَا حَسَنٍ مَا لِلزَّمَانِ يَنُوشُنِي

    كَأَنَّكَ لَمْ تَعْلَمْ بِوُدَّي وَلا حُبِّي

    O Abu Hasan, why does Time assail me,

    as though you did not know of my affection or my love?

  4. وَمَنْ لِي بِأَقْوَامٍ عَلَيَّ تَأَلَّبُوا

    أُسَالِمُهُمْ دَهْرِي وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي حَرْبِي

    And who will aid me against people who have banded together against me?

    I treat them peacefully all my days, while they strive to wage war on me.

  5. وَأَنْتَ عَلِيٌّ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ تَشَيُّعِي

    فكُنْ نَاصِريِ وَأدْرَأَ جُمْوعَ بَنِي حَرْبِ

    And you are Ali; you already know my allegiance to your cause.

    So be my defender, and repel the hosts of Banu Harb.