أرى بَقايا البيوتِ قاطبَةً

ما فتئت بالقديمِ مُفْتخرهً

I see the remnants of homes altogether

They have continuously taken pride in the old

من ماتَ حيٌّ بطيبِ مَحْمدةٍ

والحيُّ بالذم أعظُمٌ نخِرهْ

Whoever died is alive with good praise

And the living with blame are most decayed

ولا يغرَّنْكَ مُبْتدى شَرفٍ

ومُنتهاهُ بلؤْمهِ غَمَرَهُ

Do not be fooled by one who boasts his nobility

Whose endpoint is flooded with his worries

فأشْرَفُ الزادِ عند آكِلِهِ

إذا تناهتْ أقسامهُ عَذِرَهْ

The most noble provision for one who eats

Is when his excuses have come to an end