أَلا عَلِّلاني إِنَما العَيشُ تَعليلُ

وَما لِحَياةٍ بَعدَها ميتَةٌ طولُ

Come, let me know the reason why life is but a loan

And after it what lengthy death there is! What pain!

دَعاني مِنَ الدُنيا أَنَل مِن نَعيمِها

فَإِنِّيَ عَنها بَعدَ ذَلِكَ مَشغولُ

It bids me taste its pleasures and its joys-

Then leaves me overwhelmed with pressing cares.

خُذا لَذَّةً مِن ساعَةٍ مُستَعارَةٍ

فَلَيسَ لِتَعويقِ الحَوادِثِ تَمثيلُ

Just snatch an hour that flies as swift as thought!

No chance remains for thee to plot or plan.