ما قلت كان لما قد فات من أسف

ولا ترقبت ما يأتي به الأمل

I did not speak of what had passed with regret,

Nor did I anticipate what hope would bring.

لا ألزم الدهر ذنبا في تصرّفه

فالطبع يفعل مالا يفعل العذل

I do not blame fate for its turns,

Nature acts as logic does not.

لا ما يكون ولا ما كان ينفعني

يومي بما فيه حتى ينفد الأجل

Neither what will be nor what was benefits me-

My day suffices me until my time runs out.