وَكُنتَ أَخي بِإِخاء الزَّمانِ

فَلَمّا نَبا صِرتَ حرباً عَوانا

You were my brother in the brotherhood of time

But when fortunes changed you became a hostile warrior

وَكُنتُ أَذُمّ إِلَيكَ الزَّمان

فَقَد صِرتُ فيك أَذُمّ الزَّمانا

And I used to blame time for estranging you

Yet now it is you whom I blame, o time

وَكُنتُ أُعِدّك لِلنائِبات

فَها أَنا أَطلُب مِنكَ الأَمانا

I used to prepare you for calamities

Yet now it is from you that I seek safety