اعلل القلب اليف الحزن

بصحوة الزمان وهو ينثنى

The heart is saddened by the troubles of time,

As it bends and folds with the turns of fate.

يقول قول العمري الفطن

ما لزماني دون كل الازمن

The wise elder says with reason and rhyme,

My time is no different than times of late.

اوقعه الله بداء مزمن

بالسوء شان شأن ذي الخلق السني

May God afflict it with illness sublime,

For its ways have led good men to hate.

وضعضع الشهم يعيش خشن

وراح وهو عيبة للفتن

The proud are humbled in their mortal climb,

And the vile exalted, to virtues ingrate.

يقصي العلي ويقرب الدني

وبغتنى عنه وفيه يعتنى

It raises up the fool and blocks the wise,

To me it shows malice without disguise.

منحه مشوبة بالمحن

وسره لشره كالعلن

With misfortune it fills my joyful cup,

Its secret evil plain for all to see.

قد ابرز القبح بشكل حسن

فكل طاوس طويس المدني

Each peacock of the cities seems a crow,

And every horned viper coils below.

وكل قرنان اويس القرني

يا ليت لو اني به لم اكن

Would that I had not lived to see this day,

When time itself has turned my sight away.

فانه صار قذاء الاعين

كم خان ذا امانة لم يخن

Many who were true have learned betrayal,

My age, my clan - cause of constant wail.

من زمني وأحربي واحزني

وا اسفي والهفي من زمن

Oh my sorrow and grief for this time,

That cheated and ruined this life of mine!