أتاك الشتاءُ عقيبَ الخريفِ

وجاء الربيعُ يليه المصيفُ

Winter came after autumn

And spring followed then summer

ودار الزمانُ بأبنائه

فمن دوره كان دورُ الرغيف

Time revolves with its sons

As does the cycle of bread

سرى في الجسوم بأحكامه

تغذى اللطيف به والكثيف

It flowed in bodies with its rules

Feeding the delicate and the coarse

عجبتُ لهم جهلوا قدرهم

ويسعى القويُّ له والضعيف

I wondered at them, ignorant of their worth

As the strong and the weak bustle for it

فأصبح كالماء في قدره

لديهم وفي الماء سرٌّ لطيف

It became like water in its pot

With them, and in water there is a subtle secret