وَعَظتُ قَوماً فَلَم يُرعوا إِلى عِظَتي

مِثلَ اِمرِىءِ القَيسِ ناجي طائِرَ الوادي

I admonished a people, but they did not heed my admonition,

Like Imru' al-Qays, the companion of the bird of the valley.

أَرى الزَمانَ وَشيكاً مُبطِئاً وَلَهُ

حالٌ تُخالِفُ إيشاكي وَإِروادي

I see time approaching slowly, with a state

That contradicts my wishes and inclinations.

كَم جادَ قبلي حَضارٌ وَبادِيَةٌ

لِلوارِثينَ بِأَفراسٍ وَأَذوادِ

How many civilized and nomadic people have perished

Leaving inheritance to heirs, horses and camels.

إِنَّ المَنايا أَرَتنا حُجَّةً شَرَحَت

فَضلَ العَطايا لِبَخّالٍ وَأَجوادِ

Verily death has shown us a clear argument

That generosity is wasted on the miserly and ungenerous.

وَالعَفوَ آمُلُ مِن رَبّي إِذا حُضِرَت

نَفسي وَفارَقتُ عُوّادي لِأَعوادي

I hope for pardon from my Lord when my soul departs

And I leave my friends to return to the ground.