كَم بِتُّ أَسري عَلى ظَهرِ الكئوسِ إِلى

أن أَصبَحَ الدَنُّ في آثارِها طَلَلا

How often have I wandered among the ruins

Until the traces became mounds of debris

فَاِسأَلهُ لا تَسأَلِ الأَطلالَ حادِثَهُ

فَالدَنُّ مِن أَنطَقِ الأَطلالِ أَن يُسَلا

So ask the ruins, do not ask the mounds

For ruins are more articulate than mounds to lament

اَما الشَبابُ فَأَبكاني بِرِحلَتِهِ

فَقالَ إِن كُنتَ تَبغي فَاِبكِ مَن رَحَلا

As for youth, it made me weep when it departed

It said, “Weep if you want for one who has departed”

فَقُلتُ هَل بَعدَكَ الأَيّامُ واسِعَةٌ

أَو لا فَقَد جاءَني ما ضَيَّقَ السُبُلا

So I said, “After you, are there still ample days

Or not, for what has come to me has narrowed the paths”