نَفسٌ قَدِ اِستَودَعتُ جِسماً إِلى أَمَدٍ

فَإِن تُفارِقهُ بِالمِقدارِ لا يَعُدِ

A soul that has lodged itself in a body for a time

If it leaves it by decree, it will not return

أَوعِد وَعِد سَوفَ يَأتي بَعدَنا زَمَنٌ

كَأَنَّنا فيهِ لَم نوعِد وَلَم نَعِدِ

We make promises that a time will come after us

As if we didn't promise or make appointments in it

تَصعّدَ الفِكرُ ثُمَّ اِرتَدَّ مُنحَدِراً

فَحارَ بَينَ هُبوطِ المَلِكِ وَالصَعَدِ

Thought ascends then retreats downhill

Confused between the angel's descent and ascent

لَو تَسلَكُ الروحُ في الأَجبالِ عالِمَةً

كَعِلمِنا هَدَمَتها كِثرَةُ الرَعدِ

If the soul traverses mountains knowingly

Our knowledge would destroy it like frequent thunder