حِجرٌ عَلى الناسِ حِجرٌ لَيتَ أَنَّهُمُ

مِثلَ الحِجارَةِ لا ماتوا وَلا نَبِسوا

Restraint upon humankind—restraint! Would that they were

like stones: neither dying nor ever speaking.

جاؤُوا بِدَعوى فَلَمّا حُصِّلَت وجِدَت

مِثلَ الهَباءِ وَقيلَ الأَمرُ مُلتَبِسُ

They came with a claim; but when it was examined, it proved

like motes of dust, and it was said, “The matter is unclear.”

وَالقَومُ شُرٌّ فَلا يَسرُركَ إِن بَسَطوا

لَكَ الوُجوهَ وَلا يُحزِنكَ إِن عَبَسوا

The people are evil: let it not delight you when they show

you welcoming faces, nor grieve you when they frown.

أَمرٌ بَدا ثُمَّ أَخفى شَأنَهُ قَدَرٌ

كَالنارِ ماتَت فَلَم يُنشَر لَها قَبَسُ

A matter appeared, then Fate concealed its truth—

like a fire that died, with no brand raised to revive it.

وَخامِلٌ ما نَأَت عَنهُ اباهَتُهُ

كَأَنَّهُ الجَمرُ غَطّى ضَوءَهُ اليَبَسُ

Dim is that from which its splendor has withdrawn,

as though it were an ember whose glow dry tinder veiled.

دُنيايَ هَل لِيَ زادٌ أَستَعينُ بِهِ

عَلى الرَحيلِ فَإِنّي فيكِ مُحتَبَسُ

My world, have I provisions by which to sustain myself

upon the journey? For within you I am held captive.