أَينَ المُلوكُ وَأَينَ ما جَمَعوا وَما

ذَخَروهُ مِن ذَهَبِ المَتاعِ الذاهِبِ

Where are the kings and where is what they amassed,

And what they hoarded of fleeting gold wares,

وَمِنَ السَوابِغِ وَالصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا

وَمِنَ الصَواهِلِ بُدَّنٍ وَشَوازِبِ

Of thoroughbred steeds, swords and spears,

Of heavily armed soldiers and drinking cups?

كانَت سَوابِقُها تُحَمِّلُ مِنهُمُ

أَقمارَ أَندِيَةٍ وَأُسدَ كَتائِبِ

Their vanguard used to carry, among them,

Moons of gatherings and lions of battalions.

كانوا لُيوثَ خَفِيَّةٍ لَكِنَّهُم

سَكَنوا غِياضَ أَسِنَّةٍ وَقَواضِبِ

They were lurking lions, but they

Inhabited thickets of pegged tents and ships.

قَصَفَتهُم ريحُ الرَدى وَرَمَتهُمُ

كَفُّ المَنونِ بِكُلِّ سَهمٍ صائِبِ

The wind of destruction blew them away and fate

Struck them with every precise arrow.