وَجَدتُ اِبنَ آدَمَ في غِرَّةٍ

بِما يَستَفيدُ وَما يَطَّرِف

I found the son of Adam in his prime,

Pursuing what benefits him and delights.

تَعَلَّقَ دُنياهُ قَبلَ الفِطامِ

وَما زالَ يَدأَبُ حَتّى خَرِف

His world clung to him before he was weaned,

And he kept toiling until he grew old and feeble.

وَتَسمو لِطارِفِها عَينُهُ

وَخَيرٌ لِناظِرِها لَو طُرِف

Yet his eyes aspire to its trinkets,

Though it would be better for the beholder to be aloof.

يُسَرُّ بِها عَصرَ إِقبالِها

كَأَنَّ تَغَيُّرَها ما عُرِف

He rejoices in its heyday,

As if its changes were never known.

وَيَذرِفُ مِن حُبِّها دَمعَهُ

وَما يَجلُبُ الحَظَّ دَمعٌ ذُرِف

And from love of it he sheds tears,

Though weeping avails not when Fate decrees.

وَكَم مَرَّ يَوماً عَلى قَبرِهِ

حِسانُ الوُجوهِ فَلَم تَشتَرِف

And many a day has passed over his grave

While the fair ones reveled without a thought.

أَيَلتَمِسُ الماءَ مِن ناكِزٍ

وَيَترُكُ جَمّاً لِمَن يَغتَرِف

Does he seek water from mirage

And leave a full pool for those who draw water?

وَلَم يَقتَرِف مِن رِضا رَبِّهِ

وَلَكِن جَرائِمُه يَقتَرِف

He commits no sin to please his Lord

Yet his crimes are manifold.

كَعامِلِ قَومٍ أَساءَ الصَنيعَ

وَلا ريبَ في أَنَّهُ يَنصَرِف

Like a worker who did his master wrong,

Surely he shall depart empty-handed!

وَقَد جاءَ غافِلَنا رِزقُهُ

وَإِن كانَ لِلقوتِ لَم يَحتَرِف

Our heedless sustenance has come to us,

Though we are not professionals earning a livelihood.

أَيا ظَبيَّةَ القاعِ خافي الرُماةَ

وَلا يَخدَعَنَّكِ رَوضٌ يَرِف

O gazelle of the valley, beware the hunters' traps

Let not the verdant meadow deceive you!