يا أيُّها الهاربُ منْ دهرهِ

أدركَكَ الدهرُ على خَيلِهِ

O you who flees his fate

Fate has caught up with you on its steeds

يسوقُ من نُفرته طرةً

إلى مدىً يقصرُ عن نيله

Driving those who fled from it hastily

To a goal beyond reach

فوجهُهُ يأخذُ من رأسهِ

أخذَ نهارِ الصيفِ من ليلهِ

Its face takes from his head

As a summer day takes from its night

مثلُ الذي يرقعُ من جَيبه

وهْياً بما يأخذُ من ذيلِهِ

Like one who patches his pocket

With that which it takes from its tail