إِلى كَم أَرى سَعداً مُقيماً مَكانَهُ

وَيَمضي وَزيرٌ عَنهُ ثُمَّ وَزيرُ

For how long do I see Saad settled in his place

While ministers pass by him, minister after minister

يَزولونَ صَرفاً أَوحِمامَ مَنِيَّةٍ

وَأَرسى فَما يَنوي الزَوالَ ثَبيرُ

They fade away soon or die a sudden death

Yet he remains firm, unchanging, steadfast

فَلَو نَفسُهُ يُغري بِها شُؤمَ نَفسِهِ

لَأَقشَعَ إِظلامٌ وَأَعقَبَ نورُ

If he allures his soul with its ill omens

Darkness will vanish and light will follow

إِذا ما طَلَعنا مِن فَمِ الصِلحِ شَرَّقَ ال

غُرابُ وَغارَ النَحسُ حَيثُ يَغورُ

When we emerge from the mouth of peace the dawn rises

Misfortune hides where it descends

وَكانَ اِبنُ سَوداءٍ كَرِهتُ خِلاطَهُ

فَأَنأى رَواحٌ دارَهُ وَبُكورُ

Ibn Sawda’s company I hated

So the dawns and their first lights avoided his house