أَلاّ يا لَهفَ نَفسي أَيَّ لَهفٍ

عَلى أَهلِ الفَقارَةِ أَيَّ لَهفِ

Alas, O my yearning soul, what yearning is this

For the people of virtue, what yearning is this

مَضَوا قَصدَ السَبيلِ وَخلَّفوني

إِلى خَلَفٍ مِنَ الإِبرامِ خَلفِ

They have gone ahead on the path and left me behind

To lag behind in completing my affairs

سُدىً لا يَكتَفونَ وَلا أَراهُم

يُطيعونَ اِمرَءاً إِن كانَ يَكفي

In vain, they are never satisfied, nor do I see them

Obeying a man, even if he suffices