مَضى الناسُ أَفواجاً وَنَحنُ وَراءَهُم

وَكانوا وَكُنّا في الضَلالِ نَعومُ

The people passed by in groups while we trailed behind them

Though they and we were lost in ignorance and blind

فَيا أُذني هَل في الَّذي تَسمَعينَهُ

مِنَ القَولِ إِلّا فِريَةٌ وَزُعومُ

So my ears, is there in what you hear

Anything but lies and unfounded tales?

وَكَم يَتَجَنّى المَينَ أَحمَرُ ناطِقٌ

تُمازُ بِهِ عِندَ المَذاقِ طُعومُ

And how much poison is proffered by the eloquent red-lipped speaker

Who makes it seem sweet to the taste

وَراحِلَتي نَفسٌ خَؤونٌ كَأَنَّها

مِنَ الضَعفِ شاةٌ في السَوامِ رَغومُ

My mount is a negligent soul that is as though

Among the herd, a weak sheep stumbling in its walk

لَجونٌ إِذا بانَ الهُدى لاتَؤُمُّهُ

وَإِن لاحَ نَهجُ الغَيُّ فَهيَ سَعومُ

A horse too feeble to be led aright

Though the true path shine clear, it still goes astray