قد كان حظِّي في الكتابةِ ناقصاً

أيامَ حظِّي في الشبيبةِ وافرُ

My fortune in writing was incomplete

In my youth, my fortune was abundant

حتَّى إِذا خدمَ اليراعةَ خاطرِي

قعدَ الجُدودُ بها وهن عواثِرُ

Until prudence ruled my thoughts

And moderation settled in and obstacles arose

هذا ليمتنعَ الكمالُ ويعلمَ ال

جُهَّالُ أَنَّ اللّهَ فَرْدٌ قادِرُ

So that perfection would be unattainable and the

Ignorant would know that Allah is the One, the Able

أمنَ السويَّةِ أن أكونَ معطَّلاً

ويلي الكتابةَ مستميتٌ جائِرُ

Is it because of fairness that I am disabled

While the unjust one is intensely immersed in writing

أشكو وما لشكيَّتِي من سَامعٍ

وأصيحُ مضطَهداًوما لي ناصرُ

I complain but my complaint has no listener

And I cry out being oppressed but I have no helper

قد كادتِ الأيامُ تنقصُ شَرْطَها

في الفضلِ لولا أنّهنَّ غوادِرُ

The days have nearly diminished their term

In merit, were it not that they are generous

كانت تقاتلُنِي وما ليَ ناصرٌ

واليومَ تقتُلنِي وما لي ثائِرُ

They used to fight me while I had no helper

And today they kill me while I have no avenger

فلئِنْ جُنِنْتُ فلا عجيبٌ أَنَّهُ

قد جُنَّ هذا المنجنونُ الدائِرُ

So if I go insane, it's no wonder

For this circling madman has gone insane

فعَسى معينُ المُلْكِ يطْلعُ سَعْدُهُ

ويعودُ عيشٌ في ذراهُ ناضِرُ

Perhaps the helper of the kingdom will shine his fortune

And a fresh livelihood will return to its flourishing abode

للمجدِ فيه مواعِدٌ مضمونَةٌ

واللّه ناصرُهُ ونِعْمَ الناصِرُ

For glory, it has guaranteed promises

And Allah is its helper, what an excellent helper!