بَقَيتُ وَما أَدري بِما هُوَ غائِبٌ

لَعَلَّ الَّذي يَمضي إِلى اللَهِ أَقرَبُ

I remain though I know not what is absent,

Perhaps what goes to God is closer.

تَوَدُّ البَقاءَ النَفسُ مِن خيفَةِ الرَدى

وَطولُ بَقاءِ المَرءِ سُمٌّ مُجَرَّبُ

The soul desires continuance out of fear of destruction,

Yet long continuance of a person is proven poison.

عَلى المَوتِ يَجتازُ المَعاشِرُ كُلُّهُم

مُقيمٌ بِأَهلَيهِ وَمَن يَتَغَرَّبُ

All companions must pass away,

Whether dwelling with family or a wanderer far away.

وَما الأَرضُ إِلّا مِثلُنا الرِزقَ تَبتَغي

فَتَأكُلُ مِن هَذا الأَنامِ وَتَشرَبُ

The earth is but like us, seeking sustenance,

Consuming some of these people and drinking.

وَقَد كَذَبوا حَتّى عَلى الشَمسِ أَنَّها

تُهانُ إِذا حانَ الشُروقُ وَتُضرَبُ

They have lied even about the sun, claiming

It is disgraced when rising and setting.

كَأَنَّ هِلالاً لاحَ لِلطَعنِ فيهِمُ

حَناهُ الرَدى وَهوَ السِنانُ المُجَرَّبُ

Like a crescent moon unassailable by their dispraise,

Destruction has bent it, yet it is the seasoned scimitar.

كَأَنَّ ضِياءَ الفَجرِ سَيفٌ يَسُلُّهُ

عَلَيهُم صَباحٌ بِالمَنايا مُذَرَّبُ

As if the dawn's radiance were a sword he unsheathes

Against them, a morning steeped in calamities.