قَد رَأَيتُ القُرونَ كَيفَ تَفانَت

دُرِسَت ثُمَ قيلَ كانَ وَكانَت

I have seen the centuries pass away,

I have seen the generations, how they met their end,

Studied, then called history yesterday.

Effaced, until it was merely said: "He was," and "She was."

هِيَ دُنيا كَحَيَةٍ تَنَفُثُ السُم

مَ وَإِن لانَتِ المَجَسَّةُ لانَت

This world is but a serpent foul with venom,

It is a world like a serpent spewing poison,

Though it seem fair decked by art's ingenuity.

Even if its skin feels soft to the touch.

كَم أُمورٍ لَقَد تَشَدَّدتُ فيها

ثُمَّ هَوَّنتُها عَلَيَّ فَهانَت

How many things I mastered with firmness,

How many matters I once burdened myself with,

Then lightly shrugged them off and cast them from me.

Then I took them lightly, and they became light.