بَقائِيَ الطَويلُ وَغِيِّ البَسيطُ

وَأَصبَحتُ مُضطَرِباً كَالرَجَزِ

My long survival and melancholy of Basīṭ,

And I have become restless like Rajaz.

وَلي نَفَسٌ لَم يَزَل دائِباً

يُنَجِّزُ وَقتِيَ حَتّى نَجَز

And I have a soul that has not ceased to be diligent,

Finishing my time until it is finished.

فَإِثنِ عَلى اللَهِ تُعطَ الثَوابَ

وَإِلّا فَكَم مادِحٍ لَم يُجَز

So praise Allah and you will be rewarded,

Otherwise, how many praisers have not been rewarded?

وَما اِنفَكَّ سَعيُ الفَتى لِلضَلالِ

إِلى أَن ثَوى أَو إِلى أَن عَجَز

And the striving of the youth for misguidance did not cease

Until he became senile or until he was incapable.

فَهَل أَنتَ مُحتَجِزٌ إِنَّهُ

لِيَومِ الحِمامِ تُشَدُّ الحُجَز

So are you detaining? Indeed,

On the day of trouble, the fortifications are tightened.