لَقَد أَسِفتُ وَماذا رَدَّ لي أَسَفي

لَمّا تَفَكَّرتُ في الأَيّامِ وَالقِدَمِ

I have regretted, but what has my regret returned to me

When I reflected upon the days and centuries past

في العُدمِ كُنّا وَحُكمُ اللَهِ أَوجَدَنا

ثُمَّ اِتَّفَقنا عَلى ثانٍ مِنَ العَدَمِ

We were in oblivion, and God's decree brought us into being

Then we agreed upon a second oblivion

سِيّانِ عامٌ وَيَومٌ في ذَهابِهِما

كَأَنَّ ما دامَ ثُمَّ اِنبَتَّ لَم يَدُمِ

A year or a day are equal in their passing

As though what existed then sprouted did not last