خَاصَمَني من سَكَتُّ عنه

خَاصَمَني من سَكَتُّ عنه

فَظَنَّ أَنْ ليسَ لي لسانُ

فَظَنَّ أَنْ ليسَ لي لسانُ

The one I kept silent about quarreled with me;

He who I was silent towards accused me

so he thought I had no tongue.

Thinking that I had no tongue

فقلت ما أَنْتَ لي بخَصْمٍ

فقلت ما أَنْتَ لي بخَصْمٍ

وإِنَّمَا خَصْمِيَ الزَّمانُ

وإِنَّمَا خَصْمِيَ الزَّمانُ

So I said, 'You are no adversary of mine;

So I said, you are no opponent of mine

rather, my adversary is Time alone.'

Rather, time is my only opponent