شكوتُ الزمانَ فقال الزمانُ

وكان خصيماً ألدَّ الخصامِ

I complained of time, and time replied:

"You are my rival, most contentious of foes!"

لك الذنبُ لا ليَ فيما شكوتَ

بمدح اللئامِ وتركِ الكرامِ

The fault lies not with me, but with you who complained,

By praising villains and abandoning the noble.

عليك أبا الصقر ذاك الذي

يمحِّصُ عني ذنوبَ اللئامِ

Father of the falcon, it is you who

winnows my faults from the chaff of the wicked,

بجدواه يُغفرُ لي لومُهم

ويُغمدُ عني لسان الملامِ

with your bounty, forgiving my misdeeds,

and sheathing the tongues that would blame me.

فلا يُخلني الله من مثله

يقومُ بعذريَ عند الأثامِ

May God not deprive me of one like you,

who rises to defend me among the sinful.