وَكُنْتُ أُحَارِبُ رَيْبَ الزَّمَا

نِ أَيَّامَ أَعْيُنُهُ نَائِمَهْ

I used to fight the doubts of fate

In days when its eyes were closed in sleep

فَلَمَّا تَيَقَّظَ سَالَمْتُهُ

وَمَنْ خَافَ سَطْوَتَهُ سَالَمَهْ

But when it woke I made my peace

And whoever feared its tyranny yielded

وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أُسْرعُ فِي قَمْرِهِ

فَقَدْ صِرْتُ أَقْنَعُ بِالْقَائِمَهْ

Eager I was in its bright moon

Now content just to stay afoot