عُلاً بِمَناطِ السُّها تَسْتنيرُ

كَما يَتَأَلَقُ وَهْناً صَبيرُ

With resolve, the heights of glory illuminate

As a weak child shines with grace.

وَمَجْدٌ رَفيعُ الذُّرا دُونَهُ

لِطالِبِ شَأْوِيَ طَرْفٌ حَسيرُ

And lofty glory, heights beyond reach,

For one with high ambitions is misfortune's gaze.

وَلِلْخِلِّ مِنْ شِيَمِي رَوْضَةٌ

وفي راحَتي لِعُفاتِي غَديرُ

And for the wicked, a garden from decent traits,

In my peace, for the chaste a river flows.

وَلا بُدَّ مِنْ وَقْعَةٍ تَرْتَمي

بِأَيْدٍ تَطيحُ وَهامٍ تَطيرُ

And a destined fall is sure to come

With hands that strike and zeal that grows.

وَيَوْمُ الأَعادِي طَويلٌ بِها

وَعُمْرُ الرُّدَينِيّ فيها قَصيرُ

The day of enemies is long therein

And the life of the feeble is short.

وَقَدْ أَمْكَنَتْ فُرَصٌ في الوَرَى

وَلكنْ مَكَرِّيَ فيها عَسيرُ

Opportunities in life may be seized

But my tricks therein are difficult.

فَهُمْ ثَلَّهٌ غَابَ أَرْبابُها

وَنامَ الرِّعاءُ فَأَيْنَ المُغِيرُ

They are a lost herd whose owners are gone

And the shepherds sleep, where is the changer?