يا مَن صَدَفتَ عَنِ الدُنيا وَزينَتِها

فَلَم يَغُرَّكَ مِن دُنياكَ مُغريها

O you who turned away from this world and its adornments

So its allurements did not seduce you

ماذا رَأَيتَ بِبابِ الشامِ حينَ رَأَوا

أَن يُلبِسوكَ مِنَ الأَثوابِ زاهيها

What did you see at the gate of Damascus when they wanted

To dress you in splendid garments

وَيُركِبوكَ عَلى البِرذَونِ تَقدُمُهُ

خَيلٌ مُطَهَّمَةٌ تَحلو مَرائيها

And mount you on the litter preceded by

Horses caparisoned that enchant the onlooker

مَشى فَهَملَجَ مُختالاً بِراكِبِهِ

وَفي البَراذينِ ما تُزهى بِعاليها

It walked proudly with its rider

While litters do not boast their height

فَصِحتَ يا قَومُ كادَ الزَهوُ يَقتُلُني

وَداخَلَتنِيَ حالٌ لَستُ أَدريها

You cried out, "O people, vanity nearly killed me

And I was in a state I cannot describe"

وَكادَ يَصبو إِلى دُنياكُمُ عُمَرٌ

وَيَرتَضي بَيعَ باقيهِ بِفانيها

My life was nearly poured into your world

Pleased to sell the rest for the transient

رُدّوا رِكابي فَلا أَبغي بِهِ بَدَلاً

رُدّوا ثِيابي فَحَسبي اليَومَ باليها

Return my mount for I do not seek a substitute

Return my clothes for today my old ones suffice