أَلا هَل لِلهُمومِ مِن اِنفِراجِ

وِهَل لي مِن رُكوبِ البَحرِ ناجِ

Is there no relief for anxieties?

Is there no escape by sea for me?

أَكُلُّ عيشَةٍ زَوراءَ تَهوي

بِنا في مُظلِمِ الغَمراتِ ساجي

Every life is fleeting and false,

Plunging us into darkness' depths.

كَأَنَّ قَواذِفَ التَيّارِ فيها

نِعاجٌ يَرتَمينَ إِلى نِعاجِ

As if the currents' oarsmen in it

Were ewes hurling themselves to ewes,

يِشُقُّ الماءُ كَلكَلُها مُلِحّاً

عَلى ثِبَجٍ مِنَ المِلحِ الأُجاجِ

The salt water splitting their anklets,

Above salt flats of bitter salt.