قَد قيلَ إِنَّ الروحَ تَأسَفُ بَعدَما

تَنأى عَنِ الجَسَدِ الَّذي غَنِيَت بِهِ

It's said the soul laments when it's parted

From the body it had reveled in,

إِن كانَ يَصحَبُها الحِجى فَلَعَلَّها

تَدري وَتَأبَهُ لِلزَمانِ وَعَتبِهِ

That if it's accompanied by true knowledge,

It may understand and blame time’s grievance,

أَو لا فَكَم هَذَيانِ قَومٍ غابِرٍ

في الكُتبِ ضاعَ مِدادُهُ في كَتبِه

Or not - so much delirious raving

Of people long dead fills books, their ink now faded.