كُلٌّ تَسيرُ بِهِ الحَياةُ وَما لَهُ

عِلمٌ عَلى أَيِّ المَنازِلِ يَقدُمُ

Each moves through life not knowing

To which stage he goes,

وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ أَنَّنا بِجَهالَةٍ

نَبني وَكُلُّ بِناءِ قَومٍ يُهدَمُ

And strange that we in ignorance

Build, though each building falls.

وَالمَرءُ يَسخَطُ ثُمَّ يَرضى بِالَّذي

يُقضى وَيوجِدُهُ الزَمانُ وَيُعدِمُ

Man resents, then approves what Fate

Ordains that Time create or waste.

وَيَلَذُّ أَطعِمَةَ البَقاءِ وَخَيرُها

كَالسُمِّ يُخلَطُ بِالحِمامِ وَيُؤدَمُ

And the food of eternity he enjoys

Though it be as poison mixed with dove's blood.

وَالدَهرُ يَقدُمُ عَن تَرادُفِ أَعصُرٍ

فَيَغيبُ أَعصُرُ في الخُطوبِ وَيَقدُمُ

And Time advances with succession of ages

So ages pass distraught with calamities.

ذَكَرَ القَريضُ رَبيعَةَ بنِ مُكَدَّمٍ

وَليُنسِيَنَّ رَبيعَةٌ وَمُكَدَّمُ

Al-Qaridh recalls Rabia Bin Mukaddam

Though Rabia and Mukaddam be forgot.

وَنَرومُ دُنيانا وَما كَلِفٌ بِها

إِلّا الفَنيقُ وَيَظَلُّ وَهوَ مُسَدَّمُ

We seek a world, and none but the wrecked in her

Has business in her, and remains with purpose damned.

هُوِيَت وَقَد خَدَمَت وَلَم تَرَ خِدمَةً

وَتَعَرَّضَت لَكَ إِذ أُهينَت تَخدُمُ

It was abased, after honor, served without reward

And exposed itself being insulted to serve.

وَأُضيعُ أَوقاتي بِغَيرِ نَدامَةٍ

وَيَفوتُني الشَيءُ اليَسيرُ فَأَندَمُ

I waste my days without regret,

And miss the easiest things to later regret.

مَنَعَ الفَتى هَيناً فَجَرَّ عَظائِماً

وَحَمى نُمَيرَ الماءِ فَاِنبَعَثَ الدَمُ

The youth refused gently so committed outrageous sins

And protected the small water skins but blood was shed.

وَجَديدُ عيشَتِنا الشَبابُ فَإِن مَضى

فَقَميصُنا خَلقُ اللِباسِ مُرَدَّمُ

Our fresh life is youth, so if it passes

Our shirts are patched clothes.

وَالجِسمُ ظَرفُ نَوائِبٍ وَكَأَنَّهُ

ظَرفٌ يُؤَخِّرُ تارَةً وَيُقَدِّمُ

The body is liable to disasters

As if it defers or hastens them.