لا دَرَّ دَرُّ الحِرْصِ والطّمعِ

ومذلّةٍ تأتيكَ مِن نُجَعِ

The covetousness and greed bring no fruitful gain,

Only humiliation comes to you from such vain terrain.

وإذا اِنتفعتَ بما ذَلَلْتَ بهِ

فَلأَنتَ حقّاً غيرُ مُنتفِعِ

If with submission you happen to gain and attain,

In truth you are not benefited in the end or main.

ومصارعُ الأحياءِ كلِّهِمُ

في الدّهرِ بين الرِّيّ والشِّبَعِ

The death place of all the living in this life

Is between satiation and being free of strife.

وإذا علمتُ بفرقتِي جِدَتِي

فعلامَ فيما فاتنِي جزعي

When I know that my ancestors have parted and gone

Why should I grieve for what from me has flown?

من لا تراه معي وقد قعدتْ

عنّي الرّجال معاً فليس معي

For those I see not with me now I've sat

With no men left around, no friend or mate.

وَإذا ثَويتُ بدار مَخصبةٍ

وشَرِكتُ فيها فالورى شِيَعِي

If I take refuge in a fertile abode

With partners sharing, the people are my devotees.