قُبِّحَ الدَهرُ فَماذا صَنَعا

كُلَّما أَعطى نَفيسا نَزَعا

The days are accursed, what have they done?

Whenever they gave something precious, they took it away.

قَد هَوى ظُلماً بِمَن عاداتُه

أَن يُنادي كُلَّ مَن يَهوى لَعا

He has fallen in love with one whose ways

Are to call each beloved he desires a foe.

مَن إِذا قيل الخَنا صَمّ وَإِن

نطقَ العافون هَمسا سَمِعا

One who, if you speak ill of him, is deaf,

Yet if the noble speak, he hears but whispers.

مَن إِذا الغَيثُ هَمى مُنهِمراً

أَخجَلته كَفّه فاِنقَطَعا

One whom, when the rain clouds threaten to pour down,

His palms make him ashamed, so he holds back.

مَن غمامُ الجودِ مِن راحتِهِ

عصفت ريحٌ بِهِ فاِنقَشَعا

One whose clouds of generosity from his peace

A wind has blown, dispersing them.

قُل لِمَ يَطمَع في نائِلِهِ

قَد أَزالَ اليَأسُ ذاكَ الطَمَعا

Say to him, why does he hope for attainment

When despair has done away with that hope?

راحَ لا يَملِكُ إِلّا دَعوَةً

جبرَ اللَهُ العُفاةَ الضُيَّعا

He has nothing left but a prayer

God has compensated the neglected outcast.