أَلا إنَّما الدُّنيا نَضَارَةُ أَيْكةٍ

إذا اخْضَرَّ مِنْهَا جَانِبٌ جَفَّ جَانبُ

Alas! This world is but the freshness of a specter,

When one side becomes green, the other side dries up.

هِيَ الدَّارُ مَا الآمَالُ إِلّا فَجائِعٌ

عَليْها وَلا اللَّذَّاتُ إِلّا مَصَائِبُ

It is the abode whose hopes are nothing but calamities,

Wherein is naught of joy except afflictions.

فَكَمْ سَخِنَتْ بِالأَمْسِ عَيْنٌ قريرَةٌ

وَقَرَّتْ عُيُونٌ دَمعُهَا الْيوْمَ سَاكبُ

How many a moistened eye grew hot yesterday,

And how many eyes today pour forth their tears!

فَلا تَكتَحِلْ عَيْنَاكَ فِيهَا بِعَبْرَةٍ

على ذَاهِبٍ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ ذاهِبُ

Do not outline your eyes within it with tears

For one who departs from it, for you too will depart.