رُبَّ عاري الظَهرِ مُنعَفِرٍ

لاحِقِ الجنبَينِ مِن ضُمُرِه

Many a bare-backed one, ribs projecting,

Flanks sunk in, whom in his prime

كان في الأَصلاب مُنحَنياً

قَبلَ مَدِّ الدَهرِ مِن عُمُرِه

Age had bent double, was straight and upright

Ere the womb confined him.

ثُمَّ قَد زاد الحنُوَّ لَهُ

شدُّ حَقوَيهِ إلى قُتُرِه

Then did senility add to his bend;

The vertebrae of his spine close-knitted

أُحكِمَت منهُ مَرائرُهُ

حينَ كفَّ الرَبطُ مِن مَدَرِه

When the ligaments slackened in their office.

He lies buried in earth, dust-covered,

كامِنٍ في التُربِ مُندفنٍ

وَضَئيلِ الجِسمِ مُحتَقَرِه

Of slight esteem, though his mouth gapes wide

As he meets his feeder and takes his food,

وَأَكُفُّ الحَينِ مُشرَعَةٌ

لملاقيهِ فَمُختَبِرِه

Which tempts the beholder observant

And deludes the imprudent, till, when he essays it,

فيهِ أقواتٌ مُطَمِّعَةٌ

نَفسَ رائيه وَمُعتَبِرِه

He casts it hastily away, mindful

That if it profit it may also endanger.

فإذا المغرورُ حاولَها

نَبَذَت للحَينِ في ذكرِه

How shall his safeguards avail to deliver him

When the hands of Destiny follow after?

فنحاهُ مُعجِلٌ حَذراً

لَو أصابَ النَفعَ في حَذَرِه

كيفَ تُنجيهِ معاصِمُهُ

وَيَدُ الأقدارِ في أَثَرِه