حَبَستَ كِتابَ العَينِ في كُلِّ وُجهَةٍ

فَخُذ حَذَراً مِن تَرجُمانِ المُفَجَّعِ

You have imprisoned the book of the eye in every direction

So beware of the translator of the aggrieved

تَقِ اللَهَ وَاِترُك أَدمُعاً إِثرَ هالِكٍ

فَلَم تَلقَ إِلّا حامِلاً قَلبَ موجَعِ

Fear God and leave tears after one perished

For you have not found except a heart bearing anguish

وَأَيُّ اِنتِفاعٍ لِلهَديلِ الَّذي مَضى

عَلى عَهدِ نوحٍ بِالهَديلِ المُرَجَّعِ

And what benefit is there from the torrent that passed

In the days of Noah with the returning torrent

كَأَنَّ خَطيباً مُوَفِياً رَأسَ مِنبَرٍ

يَبُثُّ هُذاءً بِالكَلامِ المَسجَّعِ

It is as if an eloquent preacher saw the head of a pulpit

Spewing nonsense with elaborate speech

إِذا كانَ جِسمي في الثَرى غَيرَ عالِمٍ

فَلَحدِيَ خَيرٌ مِن مَبيتي بِمَهجَعِ

If my body is in the ground unaware

Then my grave is better than staying in a bed