طَلَبتُ مَكارِماً فَأَجدتُ لَفظاً

كَأَنّا خالِدانِ عَلى الزَمانِ

I sought virtues, but found only words,

As though we two will forever stay,

سَيُنسى كُلُّ ما الأَحياءُ فيهِ

وَيَختَلِطُ الشَآمي بِاليَماني

All that the living say will be forgot,

And the Syrian confused with the Yemenite.

وَرُمتُ تَجَمُّلاً فَكُسيتُ شَيناً

وَمَن لَكَ مِن شُرورِكَ بِالأَمانِ

Yet I pretended to be virtuous, and was clad with disgrace,

Who will protect you from your wickedness?

وَإِنَّ حَوادِثَ الأَيّامِ نُكدٌ

يُصَيِّرنَ الحَقائِقَ كَالأَماني

The accidents of time are troubles,

That turn truths into wishes.

ضَماني أَن سَيَنفَدُ كُلُّ شَيءٍ

سِوى مَن لَيسَ يَدخُلُ في الضَمانِ

My pledge is that all things will pass away,

Except He who is not bound by pledge.

وَما خِلتُ السِماكَ وَلا أَخاهُ

عَلى خَلقَيهِما لا يَهرَمانِ

I wondered whether the fish or its brother

Were informed of their immortal genesis.

وَما أَدري أَعِلمُهُما كَعِلمي

بِهَذا الأَمرِ أَم لا يَعلَمانِ

I know not if they know, like I know,

Of this thing, or know not.

فَهَل لِلفَرقَدَينِ سُلافُ راحٍ

عَلى كاساتِها يَتَنادَمانِ

Do the two sleepers have a moment of tranquility

With their goblets entertaining each other?

وَإِن فَهِما خِطابَ الدَهرِ مِثلي

فَما سَعِدا بِما يَمنيهِ مانِ

If they understand the speech of fate like me,

Then they are not fortunate with its favors.

وَأَروَحُ مِنهُما حادي ثَلاثٍ

يَسوقَهُنَّ أَو حادي ثَمانِ

I roam away from them, a guide to three,

Driving them, or a guide to eight.

وَمَن لي أَن أَكونَ طَريدَ سِربٍ

سَما لي خِدنُ سِنبِسَ أَو رَماني

Who am I to be a maverick of a flock,

Or a starling frequenting a jujube or pomegranate tree?

أَلَم تَرَني كَمَيتُ الناسَ نَفسي

فَأَظهَرَني القَضاءُ وَما كَماني

Did you not see me when people wearied my soul,

And fate revealed me openly, though I was hidden?