أَجارِحي الَّذي أَدمى أَساني

وَسالِبُ حُلَّتي عَنّي كَساني

My limbs that have rendered my tongue speechless,

And stripped me of my garments unceasingly,

فَما لي لا أَقولُ وَلي لِسانٌ

وَقَد نَطَقَ الزَمانُ بِلا لِسانِ

Why can't I speak though my tongue is able,

When time itself speaks without a tongue?

عَسى عَمرٌ عَنِ الطَوقِ المُعَرّي

فَقد جانَبتُ عَلِيَّ أَو عَساني

Perhaps an age will come to unshackle me,

Since I have erred or been led astray.

وَبيعَت بِالفُلوسِ لِكُلِّ خَزيٍ

وُجوهٌ كَالدَنانيرِ الحِسانِ

And faces like beautiful coins were sold,

For every disgrace, in full view of buyers.

وَلَو أَنّي أُعَدُّ بِأَلفِ بَحرٍ

لَمَرَّ عَلَّيَّ مَوتٌ فَاِحتَساني

Had I been given a thousand oceans,

Death would have passed me by with gratification.

ظَلامي وَالنَهارُ قَدِ اِستَمَرّا

عَلَيَّ كَما تَتابَعَ فارِسانِ

My darkness and daylight go on forever,

Following each other like two riders.