لا تَرقُدوا فَوقَ الرِحالِ فَإِنَّما

تُرمى النُجومُ بِغَيرِ طَرَفِ الناعِسِ

Do not sleep upon your saddles, for it is only

The stars that are pelted with glances of the wakeful.

وَلِرُبَّ جَدٍّ مُكثِرٍ أَبناوُهُ

يَبغَونَ عَيشَهُمُ بِجَدٍّ تاعِسِ

And many a man of energy has sons

Who seek their living through the toil of the indolent.

لَم يَدعُ حَظّي يا لَسَعدٍ في الوَغى

بَل صاحَ في الأَيّامِ يا لَمُقاعِسِ

My fortune did not leave me at peace in the fray,

But cried in the days, "O sluggard!"

لِلمَوتِ حَدٌّ لا يُقَرَّبُ حينُهُ

بِصُدورِ بيضٍ أَو صُدورِ مَداعِسِ

Death has a limit which is not brought nigh

By white breasts or breast of mourners.