هُوَ العَبشُ نُهبى مِن يَدِ الدَهرِ فَاِنهَبِ

وَإِلّا وَلَم يَذهَب مِنَ الدَهرِ فَاِذهَبِ

It is folly plundered from the hand of fate, so plunder it,

Or else, if nothing from fate is plundered, then yourself plunder.

وَما كُنتُ مِمَن يَعذِلُ الصَبَّ في الهَوى

وَلا قُلبتُ قَصِّر ما لَبِستَ بَل اِسحَبِ

I was not one who blamed passion in love,

Nor did I shorten what I donned, rather I drew it out.

وَما ضَربُ زَيدِ الدَهرِ عَمراً لِريبَةٍ

مَتى يُحسِنُ التَأديبَ غَيرُ مُؤَدَّبِ

The striking of fate against one's life is no cause for doubt

When will it discipline well one undisciplined?

وَهَبتَ لَهُ واواً وَجَنَّبتَهُ أَذى

فَلَيتَكَ لَم تُبغِض وَلَم تَتَجَنَّبِ

You granted him gentle intimacy and protected him from harm.

Would that you had not hated nor avoided.

وَما كَشَفَ الناسُ الهُمومَ بِغَيرِها

وَهَل تُكشَفُ الظَلماءُ إِلّا بِكَوكَبِ

Men uncover no worries except by them.

Can darkness be uncovered except by a star?