قَد نادَتِ الدُنيا عَلى نَفسِها

قَد نادَتِ الدُنيا عَلى نَفسِها

لَو كانَ في العالَم مَن يَسمَعُ

لَو كانَ في العالَم مَن يَسمَعُ

The world has cried out in witness against herself:

The world has cried out against itself—

If only there were someone in the world to hear—

if only there were someone in the world to listen:

كَم واثِقٍ بِالعُمرِ واثَقتُهُ

كَم واثِقٍ بِالعُمرِ واثَقتُهُ

وَجامِعٍ بَدَّدتُ ما يَجمَعُ

وَجامِعٍ بَدَّدتُ ما يَجمَعُ

“How many, trusting in their span of life, have I made a pact with;

“How many a man trusting in life have I made a pact with,

and how many a gatherer’s hoard have I scattered!”

and how many a gatherer’s hoard have I scattered!”