مَتى أَرى الدّهرَ قد آلت مصايرُهُ

إلى الّذي كان مألوفاً ومعهودا

When will I see fate turn its course

To what was once familiar and expected

كم ذا أرى كلَّ مذمومٍ ولست أرى

بين الورى أبدَ الأيّامِ محمودا

How much do I see all that is blameworthy yet I do not see

Among people forever anything praiseworthy

قالتْ أراك بهمٍّ لا تفارقُهُ

فقلت همِّي لأنّي ظَلْتُ مَجهودا

She said, I see you worried, never leaving you

So I said, my worry is because I remained exhausted

إنْ شئتَ عزّاً بلا ذُلٍّ يُطيف بهِ

فَاِقطَعْ منَ الحرصِ حبلاً كان ممدودا

If you want honor without disgrace accompanying it

Then sever any rope that has been extended by greed

خذْ كيفَ شئتَ عن الأقطار قاطبةً

وَاِطلُبْ من الرّزق مطلوباً وموجودا

Take in any way you wish from all regions

And seek sustenance, desired and found

فلستَ تأخذُ إلّا ما سبقتَ بهِ

ولا تبدّل بالمجدودِ مجدودا

For you will not take except what you were preceded with

Nor exchange the predetermined for another predetermined

مضى الثّقاتُ فلا عينٌ ولا أثرٌ

وأُورِدوا من حياضِ الموتِ مورودا

The trusted ones have passed away, no eye or trace

And they were led into death's meadows as sacrificial offerings

وأصبحوا كهشيمٍ بات في جَلَدٍ

بِعاصِفاتٍ منَ النّكباءِ مكدودا

And they became like chaff that spent the night in hides

Blown by storms of adversity into sand dunes

فما أبالِي وقد فارقتهمْ غَبَناً

شُحّاً منَ الدَهرِ في نفعٍ ولا جودا

So why should I care, now that I have parted from them stingily

Out of fate's stinginess in benefit and generosity

وَلا أضمُّ يداً منِّي بغيرهمُ

ولا أودُّ من الأقوامِ مودودا

And I do not join my hands with others

Nor love anyone of the people as loved ones

ولا أخاف على مَن كان بعدهُم

نَحساً وسعداً ولا بيضاً ولا سودا

And I do not fear for those after them

Misfortune or fortune, whiteness or blackness