سَمَّوْهُ عَمْراً فَصَحَّفْنَا اسْمَهُ غَمَراً

فَبَيِّنَ الدَّهْرُ مِنَّا مَوْضِعَ الغلطِ

They called it life, but we misread its name as ordeal

And time made clear where in this word we erred

فأَصْبَحَتْ عَيْنُهُ غَيْناً بِنُقْطَتِها

وطالَما ارْتَفَعَ التَّصْحِيفُ بالنُّقَطِ

Thus in his eye there dwelt a teardrop constantly

And oft in points the act of misreading stirred