لَعَلَّ نُجومَ اللَيلِ تُعمِلُ فِكرَها

لِتَعلَمَ سِرّاً فَالعُيونُ سَواهِدُ

Perhaps the stars of the night put their minds to work

To learn a secret, while eyes slumber

خَرَجتُ إِلى ذي الدارِ كُرهاً وَرِحلَتي

إِلى غَيرِها بِالرَغمِ وَاللَهُ شاهِدُ

I went out to another house unwillingly and my journey

To other than it was by force, and God is witness

فَهَل أَنا فيما بَينَ ذَينَكَ مُجبَرٌ

عَلى عَمَلٍ أَو مُستَطيعٌ فَجاهِدُ

So am I, between these two, compelled

To a deed or able and striving?

عَدَمتُكِ يا دُنِّيا فَأَهلُكِ أَجمَعوا

عَلى الجَهلِ طاغٍ مُسلِمٌ وَمُعاهِدُ

I lost you, O world, so your people altogether

Are overwhelming in ignorance, submissive and covenanting

فَمُفتَضِحٌ يُبدي ضَمائِرَ صَدرِهِ

وَمُخفٍ ضَميرَ النَفسِ فَهُوَ مُجاهِدُ

One exposes the secretes of his chest

While another conceals the soul’s secret, yet he strives

أَخو شَيبَةٍ طِفلُ المَرادِ وَهِمَّةٌ

لَها هِمَّةٌ في العَيشِ عَذراءُ ناهِدُ

Brother of youthful purpose and determination

With determination in living, an abstaining maiden

فَوا عَجَباً نَقفو أَحاديثَ كاذِبٍ

وَنَترُكُ مِن جَهلٍ بِنا ما نُشاهِدُ

What wonder we stop to hear a liar’s tales

And in our ignorance leave unseen what we observe

لَقَد ضَلَّ هَذا الخَلقُ ما كانَ فيهُمُ

وَلا كائِنٌ حَتّى القِيامَةِ زاهِدُ

Truly these people went astray; none will be

Until Judgment Day, an ascetic