رَأَيتُ قَضاءَ اللَهِ أَوجَبَ خَلقَهُ

وَعادَ عَلَيهِم في تَصَرُّفِهِ سَلبا

I saw Allah's decree made His creation obligatory,

And His disposal of affairs was detrimental to them.

وَقَد غَلَبَ الأَحياءَ في كُلِّ وُجهَةٍ

هَواهُم وَإِن كانوا غَطارِفَةً غُلبا

Passion has overcome the living in every situation,

Even if they were covering their faults.

كِلابٌ تَغاوَت أَو تَعاوَت لِجيفَةٍ

وَأَحسَبُني أَصبَحتُ أَلأَمَها كَلبا

Dogs snarling or cooperating over a carcass,

And I reckon I have become a dog scolding them.

أَبَينا سِوى غِشِّ الصُدورِ وَإِنَّما

يَنالُ ثَوابَ اللَهِ أَسلَمُنا قَلبا

Our father, apart from the deceit in hearts, but

Only attaining Allah's reward has our hearts submitted.

وَأَيَّ بَني الأَيّامِ يَحمَدُ قائِلٌ

وَمَن جَرَّبَ الأَقوامَ أَوسَعَهُم ثَلبا

And which of the days of life can someone praise

When someone who has experienced people, finds them rapacious.