أَلا رُبَّ ذي أَمَلٍ كاذِبٍ
بَعيدُ الرَجاءِ قَوِيُّ الطَمَع
Alas, for every vain hopeful
Of distant hope, and greedy dreams,
تَمَنّى البَقاء تَمادى بِهِ
أَجابَ القَضاءُ فَماذا صَنَع
Who longs for lasting days, persisting,
Until the Judge's will prevails, then what avails?
تَجَرَّدَ أَكثَرُ جُثمانِه
وَفَرّق ما كانَ مِنهُ جُمِع
His body sheds its vestments fair,
Once joined, dispersed as by knives,
وَدَلَّ المَشيبُ عَلى رَأسِهِ
وَأَعقَبَ مِن بَعدِ شَيبِ صَلَع
Grey hairs descend on his head,
Baldness succeeds youthful locks.
وَقَوَّسَ مَتنَيهِ بَعدَ اِعتِدالِ
وَأَثبَتَ في الرِجلِ مِنهُ الظَلَع
His upright form bends double,
His limbs acquire a limp.
فَمَن ذا يُسَرُّ بِطولِ البَقاء
إِذا كانَ يُبدِعُ هَذي البِدَع
Who then takes joy in length of days
When such strange fates arise?
