تَعالى اللَهُ وَهوَ أَجَلُّ قَدراً

مِنَ الإِخبارِ عَنهُ بِالتَعالي

God comes, though telling of Him is far

More exalted than ascribing ascent.

سَعى لي والِدايَ بِغَيرِ لُبٍّ

وَسِيّانِ العَرائِسُ وَالسَعالي

My parents toiled for me without pretense

As brides’ litters and sandals bear no bar.

وَكَونُ الروحِ في الأَجسامِ أَلقى

نَفاراً في الخُدودِ مِنَ النِعالِ

The soul’s indwelling bodies has disposed

A flash within the cheeks, not shoes’ scuff marks.

أَتَيتَ وَعُدتَ بِالتَسليمِ كُرهاً

لِأَقدارٍ أَتَينَكَ مِن مُعالِ

You came and left, surrendering perforce

To fates that came to you from summit stars.

وَلَولا أَنَّ شَيبَ المَرءِ نارٌ

لَما وَصَفَ المَفارِقَ بِاِشتِعالِ

And if not for how the gray hair of man

Is fire, none would describe the parted thus.