أَيَعلَمُ نَجمُ طارِقٍ بِرَزِيَّةٍ

مِنَ الدَهرِ أَم لا هَمَّ لِلإِنسِ طارِقُه

Does the bright star of Tariq know of a secret

From fate, or does Tariq not care for mankind?

وَهَل فَرقَدُ الخَضراءِ في الجَوِّ موقِنٌ

بِأَنَّ أَخاهُ بَعدَ حينٍ مُفارِقُه

Does the green one slumber in the air certain

That soon his brother will bid him farewell?

وَما أَرَّقَتهُ الحادِثاتُ وَكُلُّنا

إِذا نابَ خَطبٌ ساهِرُ اللَيلِ آرِقُه

Events did not trouble him, though we all

Stay awake when misfortune keeps us from sleep.

لَقَد مَرَّ حَرَسٌ بَعدَ حَرَسٍ جَميعُهُ

حَنادِسُ لَم يَذرُر مَعَ الصُبحِ شارِقُه

Many guards passed, each after another,

Their spears did not glimmer as dawn was breaking.

تَغَيَّرَت الأَشياءُ وَالمُلكُ ثابِتٌ

مَغارِبُهُ مَوفورَةٌ وَمَشارِقُه

Things have changed, but the kingdom remains,

Its settings abundant, its risings the same.

مُرادٌ جَرَت أَقلامُهُ فَتَبادَرَت

بِأَمرٍ وَجَفَّت بِالقَضاءِ مَهارِقُه

Intended, his pens flowed and hastened

To a deed - when dried by destiny's decree.

وَهَل أَفلَتَ الأَيّامَ كِسرى وَحَولَهُ

مَرازِبُهُ أَو قَيصَرٌ وَبَطارِقُه

Did the days escape Chosroes and his guards

Or Caesar and his legions withstand them?

أَبارِقُ هَذا المَوتِ سَبَّحَ رَبَّهُ

نَعَم وَأَعانَت أَكُمُهُ وَأَبارِقُه

The flashes of this death glorified his Lord -

Yes, though blind, his sight gave praise.

وَدُنياكَ لَيسَت لِلسُرورِ مُعَدَّةً

فَمَن نالَهُ مِن أَهلِها فَهُوَ سارِقُه

Your world is not meant for joy,

So he who tastes of it is but a thief.

وَقَد عِشتُ حَتّى لَو تَرى العَيشَ لاحَ لي

هَباءً كَنَسجِ العَنكَبوتِ شَبارِقُه

I have lived until, were you to see life,

It would seem to you like spider webs floating.

فَخَف دَعوَةَ المَظلومِ إِنَّ دَعاءَهُ

مُلِمٌّ بِنورَيّ الحِجابِ وَخارِقُه

Fear the prayer of the wronged, his prayer

Pierces the veil with penetrating light.

يُخادِعُ مَلِكُ الأَرضِ حَتّى إِذا أَتَت

مَنيَّتُهُ لَم تُغنِ عَنهُ مَخارِقُه

The king of the earth is deceived until

When death comes, his fleeing will not avail.