لَقَد دَجّى الزَمانُ فَلا تَدَجّوا

وَلَجَّ فَلَم يَدَع خَصماً يَلَجُّ

Time has darkened, so do not make it darker,

And it has become confused, leaving no opponent confused.

أَراني قَد نَصَحتُ فَما لِنُصحي

إِذا ما غارَ في أُذُنٍ يُمَجُّ

Do I see that I have advised, yet my advice is useless,

When it pours into an ear that shuts out all counsel?

عَجِبنا لِلرَكائِبِ مُبرَياتٍ

يَسيلُ بِهِنَّ بَعدَ الفَجِّ فَجُّ

Strange are the riding camels, their saddles emptied,

Flowing with them after death's rending are more tears.

تُنِصُّ إِلى تِهامَةَ مُبتَغاها

صَلاحَ وَلَيسَ في النِياتِ وَجُّ

You aim for well-being in Tehama, seeking it,

And good faith, though intentions harbor no ill thoughts.

هِيَ الدُنِّيا عَلى ما نَحنُ فيهِ

مَعاشٌ يُمتَرى وَدَمٌ يُثَجُّ

Such is this life we're in -

A livelihood bought and blood spilled out.

لَيالِيَ ما بِمَكَّةَ مِن مَقامٍ

وَلا بَيتٌ بِأَبطَحِها يَحِجُّ

No dwelling place in Mecca's valley

Or house on its plain brings pilgrims rest.

وَما فَتِئَت وُلاةُ الأَمرِ فيها

على الصَفراءِ تُصرِفُ أَو تَشِجُّ

Rulers of authority there weary it

With yellow gold they dispense or treasures they hoard.

وَقَد كُذِبَ الصَحيحُ بِلا اِرتِيابٍ

فَهَل صَدَقَ الأَصَمُّ أَو الأَشَجُّ

The true has been denied, without doubt,

So has the deaf or the blind spoken truth?

مَضى أَهلُ الرَجاءِ عَلى سَبيلٍ

كَأَنَّهُمُ العَظائِمُ لَم يُرَجّوا

The hopeful have departed down a road

As though the greatest calamities passed them by.

فَما لِلرُمحِ قَرَّبَهُ رِجالٌ

يُنَصَّلُ لِلمَنيَّةِ أَو يُزَجُّ

Why has the spear been wielded by men

Who are destined for death or will be routed?