الدَهرُ لا تَأمَنُهُ لَقُوَةٌ

تَزُقُّ أَفراخاً لَها بِالسُلَيّ

Time, against which no strength avails,

Rends nestlings with savage gale;

تُضحِ الثَعالي خائِفاتٍ لَها

وَتُذعِرُ الخِشفَ وَأُمَّ الطُلَيّ

The ostriches flee in wild affright,

As through the ashen gloom stalks the night,

إِن يَرحَلِ الناسُ وَلَم أَرتَحِل

فَعَن قَضاءٍ لَم يُفَوَّض إِلَيّ

When others depart, I remain behind,

By destiny's decree to which I'm resigned.

خُلِقتُ مِن بَعدِ رِجالٍ مَضَوا

وَذاكَ شَرٌّ لي وَشَرٌّ عَلَيّ

I come after men now turned to dust,

Evil to them and evil on my part.