ذَهَبَ الكِرامُ فَلَيتَهُم ذَهَبٌ يُرى

وَنُضارُ أَحسابِ الرِجالِ نُضارُ

The noble ones are gone - if only their leaving could be seen

Yet the fresh countenances of men remain ever fresh

إِن يَبقَ لا يَهرَم وَإِن يُطرَح إِلى

حَمراءَ موقَدَةٍ فَلَيسَ يُضارُ

If it remains it does not wither, and if cast into

A burning furnace it is not harmed

لا يُدرِكُ اليَومَ الَّذي خَلَّفتَهُ

تَقريبُ سابِقَةٍ وَلا إِحضارُ

You cannot regain today which you have left behind

Neither by hurrying ahead nor by delaying