خُذي رَأييِ وَحَسبُكِ ذاكَ مِنّي

عَلى ما فِيَّ مِن عِوَجٍ وَأَمتِ

Take my advice, and let that suffice from me,

Despite my crookedness and blindness.

وَماذا يَبتَغي الجُلَساءُ عِندي

أَرادوا مَنطِقي وَأَرَدتُ صَمتي

What do my companions seek when with me?

They wanted my speech, but I sought my silence.

وَيوجَدُ بَينَنا أَمَدٌ قَصِيٌّ

فَأَمّوا سَمتَهُم وَأَمَمتُ سَمتي

Between us lies a great, far chasm,

So they aimed their course, and I aimed my stillness.

فَإِنَّ القَرَّ يَدفَعُ لابِسيهِ

إِلى يَومٍ مِنَ الأَيّامِ حَمتِ

For distress pushes its wearer

To a day of days of protection.

أَرى الأَشياءَ تَجمَعُها أُصولٌ

وَكَم في الدَهرِ مِن ثُكلٍ وَشَمتِ

I see things gathered by origins,

And how much loss and joy in fate.

هُوَ الحَيوانُ مِن إِنسٍ وَوَحشٍ

وَهُنَّ الخَيلُ مِن دُهمٍ وَكُمتِ

It is the animal of human and beast,

And they are horses of bay and chestnut.