وما خُلقَ الإِنْسان إِلا لِيَنْطوي
عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الأَيّامِ بُؤْسى وأَنْعُمُ
Man was not created but to be afflicted
By days of misery and days of bliss
ولَوْلا اخْتياري حاسِدي صُلْتُ صَوْلَةً
تَروحُ وماءُ البَحْرِ مِنْ هَوْلِها دَمُ
Had it not been for the spite of my detractor
I would have galloped like a surging sea
ويأَيُّها المُسْتامُ حَرْبي بِجَهْلِهِ
وذو الجَهْلِ يَغْلو ساعَةً ثُمَّ يَنْدَمُ
O you who reprehend me in your ignorance
The ignorant exceed briefly then regret
إِذا وَصَلَتْنا بِالأَميرِ رِكابُنا
فَلَيْسَ لَنا عَتَبٌ عَلى الدَّهْرِ يُعْلَمُ
When our procession reaches the prince
No fault can be found in fate we know
وإِنْ نَحْنُ أَعْصَمْنا الرَّجاءَ بِحَبْلِهِ
فَإِنّا بِأَمْراسِ الكَواكِبِ نُعْصَمُ
Though we fortified hope with its rope
We are protected by the stars' decree
ومِنْ أَيِّ وَجْهٍ وَاجَهَتْهُ عُيونُنا
تَبَدّى لَها بَدْرٌ وبَحْرٌ وضَيْغَمُ
However we turned our eyes upon him
The full moon, sea, and clouds appeared
سَمّاحٌ بِتَيّارِ الغَمامِ مُسَرْبَلٌ
وفَخْرٌ بِلأَلآءِ النُّجومِ مُعَمَّمُ
He flows like clouds' downpour cloaked
And prides in stars like a crowned king
وشانيكَ يَدْري أَنْهُ غَيْر بَالِغٍ
مَداكَ ولَكِنْ يَرْتَجي ويُرَجِّمُ
While you know you haven't reached him yet
You still aspire and make great efforts
طَما بَحْرُكَ السَّامي عَلَيْهِ فَلَوْ لَجا
إِلى الفَلَكِ الدَّوّارِ ما كَانَ يَسْلَمُ
Your exalted sea though lofty, if it dares
To reach the spinning celestial sphere, won't be saved
إِذا انْآَدَتِ الأَرْماحُ في هَبْوَةِ الوَغى
غَدَتْ بِكَ في عَوَجِ الضُّلوعِ تُقَوَّمُ
When in the frenzy of battle spears clash
They straighten crooked ribs through you
سُرىً قاسمتنا الأَيْنَ فيها رِكابُنا
تَجَشَّمُ مِنْها مِثْلَما نَتَجَشَّمُ
The stars that determine our destiny divided us
We undertake from them like they undertake from us
تَجوبُ جِبالاً تَبْلُغُ الأُفْقَ رِفْعَةً
ومِنْ دونِها العُقْبانُ في الجَوِّ حُوَّمُ
They roam mountains reaching the horizon
While below them crows circle in the air
إِذا ما عَلَوْنا فَالصُخورُ لِوَطْئِنا
مَراقٍ إِلى الجَوْزاءِ والطَّوْدُ سُلَّمُ
When we ascend rocks become stairs
Leading to almond trees and tangled brambles
