أَرى الشَهدَ يَرجِعُ مِثلَ الصَبرِ

فَما لِاِبنِ آدَمَ لا يَعتَبِر

I see the honey returning like patience

So why doesn't the son of Adam learn?

وَخَبَّرَهُ صادِقٌ بِالحَديثِ

فَإِن شَكَّ في ذاكَ فَليَختَبِر

And he was told the truth by a truthful one

So if he doubts that, let him test

وَجَبرٌ وَكَسرٌ لَهُ في الزَمانِ

وَيُكسَرُ يَوماً فَلا يَنجَبِر

Well-being and distress are for him in time

And one day he will break down, not to mend

فَلا تُبرِ في مَأثَمٍ ناقَةً

فَرَبُّكَ إِمّا يُعاقِب يُبِر

So do not deny the she-camel its right

For your Lord either punishes or makes amends

وَكُلُّ الأَنامِ هَجينُ الفِعالِ

فَأَينَ يُصابُ الجَوادُ المُبِر

And all people vary in their actions

So where can the excellent one be found?

وَنَفسَكَ عُقَّ بِتَركِ السُ

رورِ فَإِنَّ عُقوقَكَ لِلنَفسِ بِر

And discipline yourself by avoiding harm

For disciplining yourself benefits the soul

سَأَلنا المَعاشِرَ عَن خَيرِهِم

فَقالوا بِغَيرِ اِكتِراثٍ قُبِر

We asked the deceased about their best

They said indifferently: “graves”

فَقُلنا وَكَيفَ أَتاهُ الحِمامُ

عاجَلَهُ بَغتَةً أَم صَبَر

We said: “How did death come upon them

Suddenly or did they have time?”

فَقالوا تَمادى بِهِ وَقتُهُ

وَأَدرَكَهُ المَوتُ لَمّا كَبِر

They said: “Their time simply ran out

And death overtook them in old age”

وَغادَرَ في أَهلِه ثَروَةً

وَمالاً أُذيعَ وَنَخلاً أُبِر

“They left behind wealth for their families

Money distributed and palm trees planted”

فَلا يُسقِطِ الدَمعَ سِقطُ اللِوى

وَلا تَدَّكِر حَبرَةً في حَبِر

So tears do not replace what is lost

Nor does ink move another ink

وَلَكِنَّني أَستَعينُ المَليكَ

وَإِن يَأتِني حادِثٌ أَصطَبِر

Rather, I seek refuge in the King

And if misfortune comes, I endure

وَدُنيايَ أَلقى بِطولِ الهَوانِ

وَهَل هِيَ إِلّا كَجِسرٍ عُبِر

I face the long humiliation of life

And what is it but a bridge crossed?