كَم يُبعِدُ الدَهرُ مَن أَرجو أُقارِبُهُ

عَنّي وَيَبعَثُ شَيطاناً أُحارِبُهُ

How time keeps from me those I hope to be close

And sends instead an enemy for me to oppose

فَيا لَهُ مِن زَمانٍ كُلَّما اِنصَرَفَت

صُروفُهُ فَتَكَت فينا عَواقِبُهُ

Oh what days these are that with each turn

Bring consequences that within us burn

دَهرٌ يَرى الغَدرَ مِن إِحدى طَبائِعِهِ

فَكَيفَ يَهنا بِهِ حُرٌّ يُصاحِبُهُ

Time's nature betrays and tricks at a whim

How then can the free feel safe with him?

جَرَّبتُهُ وَأَنا غِرٌّ فَهَذَّبَني

مِن بَعدِ ما شَيَّبَت رَأسي تَجارِبُهُ

I tested time when young and green

After graying my hair, its trials I've seen

وَكَيفَ أَخشى مِنَ الأَيّامِ نائِبَةً

وَالدَهرُ أَهوَنُ ما عِندي نَوائِبُهُ

Why would I now fear what days will bring

When time itself is a lighter thing

كَم لَيلَةٍ سِرتُ في البَيداءِ مُنفَرِداً

وَاللَيلُ لِلغَربِ قَد مالَت كَواكِبُهُ

How many a night in the desert alone

As the night's stars near the west have shone

سَيفي أَنيسي وَرُمحي كُلَّما نَهِمَت

أُسدُ الدِحالِ إِلَيها مالَ جانِبُهُ

My sword and spear are my friends out there

When lions approach, their sides I prepare

وَكَم غَديرٍ مَزَجتُ الماءَ فيهِ دَماً

عِندَ الصَباحِ وَراحَ الوَحشُ طالِبُهُ

How many a pond I've bloodied at dawn

As beasts come to drink what I've drawn

يا طامِعاً في هَلاكي عُد بِلا طَمَعٍ

وَلا تَرِد كَأسَ حَتفٍ أَنتَ شارِبُهُ

Oh you who hope I perish, cease your daydream

And refuse the cup if you fear its stream