رَبَّيتَ شِبلاً فَلَمّا إِن غَدا أَسَداً

عَدا عَلَيكَ فَلَولا رَبُّهُ أَكَلَك

You raised a cub, but when it grew into a lion

It turned against you, and if not for its Master it would have devoured you

جَنَيتَ أَمراً فَوَدَّ الشَيخُ مِن أَسَفٍ

لَمّا جَنَيتَ عَلى ذي السِنِّ لَو ثَكَلَك

You committed a sin, so the old man was extremely grieved

If you had sinned against the elderly, he would have rejected you

مَرِحتَ كَالفَرَسِ الذَيّالِ آوِنَةً

ثُمَّ اِعتَراكَ أَبو سَعدٍ فَقَد شَكَلَك

You frolicked about carelessly for a while

Then Abu Sa’d reproached you, so he corrected you

إِن اِتَّكَلتَ عَلى مَن لا يَضيعُ لَهُ

خَلقٌ فَإِنَّ قَضاءَ اللَهِ ما وَكَّلَك

If you rely on the One whose creation does not fail Him

Then God’s decree is what has entrusted you

لَبِستَ ذَنباً كَريشِ الناعِباتِ مَتّى

يُرحَض بِدِجلَةَ يَزدَد في العُيونِ حَلَك

You wore the garment of sin like mourning women

Whenever it is washed in the Tigris, your stains increase

وَلَو نَضَحتَ عَلى خَدَّيكَ مِن نَدَمٍ

رَشاشَ دَمعٍ بِجَفنَي تائِبٍ غَسَلَك

If you were to sprinkle regret on your cheeks

With a penitent eyelid’s sprinkling of tears, it would wash you clean

أُشعِرتَ هَمّاً فَزادَ النَومَ طارِقُهُ

كَأَنَّهُ بِسُهادٍ واصِبٍ كَحَّلَك

You were warned of anxiety, so its shadow grew darker

As if laden with sleeplessness and vigilance, it lined your eyes

فَما نَشِطتَ لِإِخباري بِفادِحَةٍ

أَوضَعَتَ فيها وَلم أَنشُط لِأَن أَسلَك

Yet you did not stir to inform me of any terrible news

You confided in it, while I did not stir to pursue it

مَلائِكٌ تحتَها إِنسٌ وَسائِمَةٌ

فَالأَ غبِياءُ سَوامٌ وَالتَقيُّ مَلَك

Angels are under it, and drowsy humans atop it

So the ignorant slumber, while the pious one is an angel

فَلا تُعَلِّم صَغيرَ القَومِ مَعصِيَةً

فَذاكَ وِزرٌ إِلى أَمثالِهِ عَدلَك

Do not teach the young of the people to disobey

For that is a burden of sin upon the likes of you

فَالسِلكُ ما اِسطاعَ يَوماً ثَقَبَ لُؤلُؤَةٍ

لَكِن أَصابَ طَريقاً نافِذاً فَسَلَك

The oyster could not one day bore through a pearl

But found a penetrating path, so it penetrated

يَلحاكَ في هَجرِكَ الإِحسانَ مُضطَغَنٌ

عَلَيكَ لَولا اِشتِعالُ الضَغنِ ما عَذَلَك

Your kindness is grieved at your estrangement

If not for the flames of grief, it would not have abandoned you

يُريكَ نَصراً وَلا يَسخو بِنُصرَتِهِ

إِلّا اِكتِساباً وَإِن خَفتَ العِدى خَذَلَك

He shows you victory but is not generous with his support

Except for gain, so if you fear injustice, he will forsake you

مَن يُبدِ أَمرَكَ لا يَذمُمكَ في خَلَفٍ

وَلا جِهارٍ وَلَكِن لامَ مِن جَهِلَك

One who reveals your secret will not criticize you openly or in private

But instead, blame your own ignorance

أَرادَ وِردَكَ أَقوامٌ لِتُروِيَهُم

فَالآنَ تَشكو إِذا شاكي الصَدى نَهلَك

Some people wanted your company, to quench themselves

Now you complain if your echo answers back your call

أُمهِلتَ في عُنفُوانِ الشَرخِ آوِنَةً

حَتّى كَبِرتَ وَفَضَّت بُرهَةٌ مَهلَك

You were given respite in the passion of your prime for a while

Until you grew old and your fleeting chance passed you by

رَماكَ بِالقَولِ مَلحيٌّ تُعِدُّ لَهُ

سَيفاً أَحَدَّكَ بِالنَكراءِ أَو صَقَلَك

A vulgar person attacked you with words, preparing

A sword that disappointed you with slander, or polished you

رَآكَ شَوكَ قَتادٍ لَيسَ يَمكِنُهُ

وَلَو رَآكَ غَضيضَ النَبتِ لَاِبتَقَلَك

He saw you as impenetrable thornbushes

If he had seen you as tender sprouts, he would have uprooted you

لِلَّهِ دارانِ فَالأولى وَثانِيَةٌ

أُخرى مَتّى شاءَ في سُلطانِهِ نَقَلَك

God has two abodes, the first and the second another

Whenever He wills in His sovereignty, He transports you