عَلَّ زَماناً يُديلُ آخِرُهُ

فَقَد يَكونُ الرَشادُ في العِجَزِ

Time has perhaps drawn out its last

So advice may come in helplessness

إِلى الأَنينِ اِستَراحَ خِدنُ ضَنى

كَما اِستَعانَ السُفاةُ بِالرَجَزِ

To sorrow's moan rest has come

As fools take aid of poetry

وَالدَينُ نُصحُ الجُيوبِ مُقتَرِناً

مَدى اللَيالي بِعِفَّةِ الحُجُزِ

And religion is fellow to pockets

Through the nights in honor of seclusion

يا صاحِ إِنّي لَزائِفٌ عَمَلي

فَحَقَّ أَني وُجِدتُ لَم أَجُزِ

Oh friend, my work is vain

So I was found, yet I did not suffice