1. طَلَبتُ فَلَم أُدرِك بِوَجهي وَلَيتَني

    قَعَدتُ فَلَم أَبغِ النَدى بَعدَ سائِبِ

    I sought, but my face won me nothing; would that I

    Had stayed behind and sought no bounty after Sāʾib.

  2. وَلَو لَجَأَ العافي إِلى رَحلِ سائِبٍ

    ثَوى غَيرَ قالٍ أَو غَدا غير خائب

    And had a seeker of bounty sought refuge at Sāʾib’s dwelling,

    He would have stayed without resentment, or left without disappointment.

  3. أَقولُ وَما يَدري أُناسٌ غَدَوا بِهِ

    إِلى اللَحدِ ماذا أَدرَجوا في السَبائِبِ

    I say—and those who bore him away do not know—

    What they took to the grave, enfolded in the winding sheets.

  4. وَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ يَوماً سَيَركَبُ كارِهاً

    عَلى النَعشِ أَعناقِ العِدا وَالأَقارِبِ

    And every man one day will ride unwillingly,

    On a bier, upon the necks of foes and kin.