كَم رَأَينا مِن أُناسٍ هَلَكوا

فَبَكى أَحبابُهُم ثُمَّ بُكوا

How many people have we seen perish,

Then their loved ones wept, and then wept again.

تَرَكوا الدُنِّيا لِمَن بَعدَهُم

وَدَّهُم لَو قَدَّموا ما تَرَكوا

They left this world for those after them,

If only they had given what they left behind.

كَم رَأَينا مِن مُلوكٍ سوقَةً

وَرَأَينا سوقَةً قَد مَلَكوا

How many kings have we seen led in shackles,

And we have seen those in shackles become kings.

قَلَبَ الدَهرُ عَلَيهِم وَرِكاً

فَاِستَداروا حَيثُ دارَ الفَلَكُ

Time turned its wheel upon them,

And they cycled where the stars cycle.