أَلا قانِعٌ مِن مُلكِ كِسرى بِكِسرَةٍ

فَما الوَجدُ إِلّا الخُلدُ لاماجَنى كِسرى

Is not one kingdom enough for Kisra's heir that he seeks to seize another?

Naught endures save eternity; no more Kisras will rule in glory.

فَما بالُنا وَالمالُ عُرضَةُ حادِثٍ

تَركنا مَطايا الريحِ في إِثرِهِ حَسرى

Why do men hoard wealth and goods - which fate one day shall take away?

Leaving their riches, in death's wake, to moulder and decay.

وَما الغَيُّ إِلّا أَن يُعَبِّدنا الهَوى

وَلَم نَدرِ جَهلاً أَنَّنا مَعشَرٌ أَسرى

Our only fate is to be prey to passion and debauchery;

Too blind to see that pleasure's way leads down the path of slavery.

وَقَد لاحَ صُبحُ الشَيبِ وَاِنسَلَخَ الصِبا

فَيا صُبحُ ما أَجلى وَيا لَيلُ ما أَسرى

The morn of old age shines at last; and youth's long night is o'er.

Hail, bloodless morn! Black night, farewell! You'll come back no more.

فَيا لَيتَ أَنّي ماخُلِقتُ لِمَطعَمٍ

وَلَم أَدرِ ما اليُسرى هُناكَ وَما العُسرى

Would I had never tasted life nor known such lavish fare!

Then bitter death were better met and easier to bear.

وَلَستُ أَراني وَالمَغَبَّةُ خِسَّةٌ

يَفي غَسلِيَ اليُمنى لِغَسلِيَ بِاليُسرى

See me, whom glory once awaited, despised, alone and drear;

My right hand washing my left hand, which soon shall wash the right.