أَتَفرَحُ بِالسَريرِ عَميدَ مُلكٍ

بِجَهلِكَ وَالحُصولِ عَلى السَريرَة

Do you rejoice as the chief of a kingdom's rule,

In your ignorance, obtaining the throne?

وَلَو قَرَّرتَ فِكرَكَ في المَنايا

إِذاً لَبَكَيتَ بِالعَينِ القَريرَه

If you were to ponder your end in death,

You would weep with flowing tears.

أَكُلُّ عَشِيَّةٍ جَسَدٌ جَريرٌ

إِلى جَدَثٍ لِيُسأَلَ عَن جَريرَه

Each evening a helpless body

Goes to a grave to be questioned of its sins.

وَما رَقَّت وَلا رَثَتِ اللَيالي

مِنَ السَرحانِ لِلأَظبي الغَريرَه

Neither have the nights been gentle or merciful

To the doe-eyed gazelle.

فَهَل أَوصَت بَنيها أُمُّ خِشفٍ

بِأَن لا تَظلِموا أَحداً بَريرَه

Did the mother of Khashaf advise her children

To not wrong anyone, even an ant?

تُوَدِّعُنا الحَياةُ بِمُرِّ كَأسٍ

إِذا اِنتَفَضَت مِنَ الحَيِّ المَريرَه

Life bids us farewell with a cup of bitter drink,

When the bitter soul departs.

نَأى عَنهُ النَسيسُ فَقَد تَساوى

لَهُ لَمسُ الحَديدَةِ وَالحَريرَه

The unworthy avoid him, so he is equal

To the touch of iron and silk.