كَأَنَّ الدَهرَ بَحرٌ نَحنُ فيهِ

عَلى خَطَرٍ كَرُكّابِ السَفينِ

Life is like a sea on which we sail

In constant peril like sailors on ships

بَكى جَزَعاً لِمَيِّتِهِ كَفورٌ

فَجاءَ بِمُنتَهى الرَأيِ الأَفينِ

An infidel wept in sorrow for his dead

Then resorted to the height of wisdom.

مُصيبَةُ دينِهِ لَو كانَ يَدري

أَجَلُّ مِنَ المُصيبَةِ بِالدَفينِ

If only he knew the calamity for his faith

Is far graver than the loss of treasures

قَدِ اِستَخفَيتُ كَالجَسدِ المُواري

وَلَكِنَّ الطَوارِقَ تَختَفيني

I have concealed myself like a shrouded corpse

But raiders keep uncovering me

عَفا أَثَري الزَمانُ وَما أَغَبَّت

ضِباعٌ في المَحَلَّةِ تَعتَفيني

Time has erased my traces and no hyenas

In this abode could track and uncover me