قل لمن يرتجي طنين الرباب

عند تغريد طائرات الذباب

Tell those who await the melody of the rebec

At the warbling of houseflies

أخلفت خلب البروق أراجي

ك كما أخلفت بحور السراب

That lightning has failed my hopes

Just as mirage pools failed yours

ظامياً ظل يرقب العذب منها

فغدا شارباً كؤوس العذاب

Yearning, he kept watching for the sweetness in them

And ended up drinking cups of torment

فاجتنب ما غررت فيه وعرج

نحو رأي مستخلص كاللباب

So avoid what has tempted you there, and head

Towards a carefully considered opinion like good sense

والتمس غرب باترات من الغر

ب فما خاب حازم الاغتراب

And seek a land of western winds, for no resolute exile

Has ever been disappointed

واصدع الهم باهتمام أبي

لم يهب عزمه ركوب الصعاب

And confront anxiety with my father’s concern

His determination did not give in to difficulties

أنف العيش تحت خطة ضيم

فرمى طرفه فويق السحاب

Disdain to live under oppressive circumstances

So cast your eyes beyond the clouds

ولتجدني متى عزمت رفيقاً

سائراً مسرعاً أمام الركاب

And you will always find me, when you are resolved, a companion

Walking quickly ahead of the riders

وهو قول عدلت فيه عن الغي

ر ولم أرتكب معمى الخطاب

And this is an utterance in which I have turned from ignorance

And not indulged in meaningless talk

وأنا واصل وراء كتابي

قادم خلفه على الأعقاب

And I, after my book, am a successor

Coming behind it, step by step