أَرى جُزءَ شُهدٍ بَينَ أَجزاءِ عَلقَمِ

وَلُبّاً يُنادي بِاللَبيبِ لَتَعقُمِ

I see a drop of honey among bitter aloes

And a kernel calling out to the perceptive "Be wise!"

وَأَسقامَ دينٍ إِن يُرَجِّ شِفائَها

صَحيحٌ يَطُل مِنهُ العَناءُ وَيَسقُمُ

And cures for religion, if their healing is hoped for

A healthy one results whose distress lasts and becomes chronic

وَصُبحاً وَإِظلاماً كَأَنَّ مَداهُما

مِنَ السِرِّ في لَونَيهِما بُردُ أَرقَمِ

Morning and nightfall are as though their lengths

Were, in their two colors, the cold of a spear's blade

وَحُكماً لِهَذا الدَهرِ صاحَ بِقائِمٍ

مِنَ العالَمِ اِجلُس أَو دَعا جالِساً قُمِ

And a decree for this age cried out to one rising

From the world "Sit still or get up, seated one, stand!"

كَأَنَّ سُرورَ النَفسِ مِن خَطَأ الفَتى

مَتى ما يَكُن يُنكَر عَلَيهِ وَيُنقَمِ

It's as though the soul's joy from a youth's mistake

Whenever it's blamed on him and avenged