لا والِدٌ خالِدٌ وَلا وَلَدُ

كُلُّ جَليدٍ يَخونُهُ الجَلَدُ

No immortal father, no undying son

Each polished frame decay in time will own

كَأَنَّ أَهلَ القُبورِ لَم يَسكُنوا ال

دورَ وَلَم يَحيَ مِنهُمُ أَحَدُ

As though the tenants of the grave had never known

Abode in houses, nor the morning light has shown

وَلَم يَكونوا إِلّا كَهَيئَتِهِم

لَم يولَدوا قَبلَها وَلَم يَلِدوا

As if the semblance we on earth have worn

Ne'er lived before its coming or was ever born

يا ناسِيَ المَوتِ وَهوَ يَذكُرُهُ

هَل لَكَ بِالمَوتِ إِن أَتاكَ يَدُ

O thou that chidest at the thought of death

Think, ere he comes to thee, how strong's his hand

يا ساكِنَ القُبَّةِ المُطيفِ بِها

أَحراسُهُ وَالجُنودُ وَالعُدَدُ

Dweller in domes with painted roofs beneath

Guarded by troops and servants at command

دارُكَ دارٌ يَموتُ ساكِنُها

دارُكَ يُبلي جَديدَها الأَبَدُ

Thy dwelling shall in turn to thee deny

However new, a shelter safe to fly

تَختالُ في مَطرَفِ الصِبا مَرَحاً

يَخطِرُ مِنكَ الذِراعُ وَالعَضَدُ

Lightly along life's path thy footsteps roam

From thee youth's grace and vigour are not gone

تَبكي عَلى مَن مَضى وَأَنتَ غَداً

يورِدُكَ المَوتُ في الَّذي وَرَدوا

Thou weepest those that to the grave have clome

Yet littler reck'st though death shall claim thine own

لَو كُنتَ تَدري ماذا يُريدُ بِكَ ال

مَوتُ لَأَبلى جُفونَكَ السَهَدُ

Didst know the fate to come that waits for all

Thine eyes with tears repentant soon would fall