أَعاذِلَ قَد كَبِرتُ عَلى العِتابِ

وَقَد ضَحِكَ المَشيبُ عَلى الشَبابِ

I no longer reproach, for I've grown old for blame

And gray hair has laughed in the face of youth

رَدَدتُ إِلى التُقى نَفسي فَقَرَّت

كَما رُدَّ الحُسامُ إِلى القِرابِ

I've returned my soul to piety, so it's grown poor

As a sword returned to its sheath

وَمالٍ قَد سَخَوتُ بِهِ وَجاهٍ

وَجيهٍ لا يَخافُ أَذى الحِجابِ

With wealth I was generous, and station

An eminent man who fears no veil's disdain

وَكَيفَ تُصانُ عَن أَجرٍ وَحَمدٍ

وُجوهٌ سَوفَ تُبذَلُ لِلتُرابِ

How can faces be protected from reward and praise

When they'll be surrendered to dust again?

وَخَصمٍ موقِدٍ لِشَرارِ شَرٍّ

أَمامَ مَعاشِرٍ خُزرٍ غِضابِ

A litigious foe of the wickedest wickedness

Before crowds of angry, scowling men

أُتِحتُ لَهُ فَأَيقَنَ إِذ رَآني

بِقانونِ الحُكومَةِ وَالخِطابِ

I complied, so when he saw me, he was sure

Of the law of governance and script