كَأَنَّ المَوتَ قَد نَزَلا

فَفَرَّقَ بَينَنا عَجِلا

It is as if death has come down

And separated us hastily

كَفى بِالمَوتِ مَوعِظَةً

وَمُعتَبَراً لِمَن عَقَلا

Death is enough of an admonition

And a lesson for whoever is reasonable

أَلا يا ذاكِرَ الأَمَلِ ال

لَذي لا يَذكُرُ الأَجَلا

Oh you who remember hope

That does not recall the appointed time

وَما تَنَفَكُّ مِن مَثَلٍ

لِسَمعِكَ ضارِبٍ مَثَلا

You do not cease from an example

That strikes your hearing as an example

وَحيلَتُكَ الَّتي لِلمَو

تِ في أَن تُحسِنَ العَمَلا

And your scheme against death

Is to excel in deed