إِنَّ الزَمانَ زَمانُ سَو

وَجَميعُ هَذا الخَلقِ بَو

Time's way leads a stray,

All creation astray.

وَإِذا سَأَلتَهُمُ نَدىً

فَجَوابُهُم عَن ذاكَ وَو

Ask them for comfort -

Their answer's "Nay!"

لَو يَملِكونَ الضَوءَ بُخ

لاً لَم يَكُن لِلخَلقِ ضَو

Could they own the light,

No creature would see.

ذَهَبَ الكِرامُ بِأَسرِهِم

وَبَقى لَنا لَيتا وَلَو

Honor's all gone,

Leaving "Would that" for me.