وَالحُكمُ جارٍ عَلى الأَكتادِ مُحتَمَلٌ

وَلا يُطيقُ ثَباتاً تَحتَهُ الكَتَدُ

The rule remains supported on tent poles

Yet no pole can bear standing beneath it

كَم زالَ جيلٌ وَهَذي الأَرضُ باقِيَةٌ

ما هَمَّ بِالزيغِ مِن أَوتادِها وَتَدُ

How many a generation has departed while this land remains

Having never deviated from its pegs and poles

أَقتادُ هَمّاً بِأَقتادٍ عَلى إِبلٍ

وَهَل يُبَلِّغُ ما أَمَّلتُهُ القَتَدُ

I lead a life of woe with woeful lives on camels

Can what I wish for be conveyed by the camel rider?

لَو يَفهَمُ الناسُ ما أَبنائُهُم جَلَبٌ

وَبيعَ بِالفَلسِ أَلفٌ مِنهُمُ كَسَدوا

If people understood what calamity their sons bring

Thousands could be bought for a coin, yet they pull back