عَجِبتُ لِآمِرِنا لَم يُطَع

وَلِلخُلدِ عِزٌّ فَلَم يُستَطَع

I'm amazed that he who was commanded is not obeyed,

And eternity has honor but could not be attained,

وَنَظمُ أُناسٍ تَناهى إِلَيَّ

مِن عَهدِ آدَمَ ثُمَّ اِنقَطَع

And a string of people reached me

From the time of Adam then was cut off,

وَأَشنَبَ إِن أَنظَرَتهُ المَنونُ

فَلا بُدَّ مِن قَصمٍ أَو لَطَع

And if death looked upon him, he frowned,

So there's no alternative but a breaking or a loosening,

فَلا تَيأَسَنَّ لِلَيلٍ دَجا

وَلا تَفرَحَنَّ بِفَجرٍ سَطَع

So do not despair of the darkest night,

Nor rejoice at the rising of a radiant dawn,

وَلا تَحفِلَنَّ أَلِلسَيّبِ أَم

مَعَ السَيفِ قُدِّمَ ذاكَ النَطَع

And pay no heed whether the sword was brought

Before or after that fatal blow.