ويَوْمَ شِبامٍ قَدْ رأَيْتُ مَواعِظاً

تُخَبِّرُنا أنَّ الْحَياةَ غُرورُ

One fateful day I saw advice

That life is naught but vain device

رَأَيْتُ مُلُوكاً طَأْطَأَ الدَّهْرُ مِنْهُمُ

ودَارَ بِهِمْ والدَّائِراتُ تَدُورُ

I saw great kings whom time did humble

As fortunes wheel did constant rumble

وَأَنْزَلَهُمْ مِنْ مَعْقِلٍ شامِخِ الذُّرَى

وعُطِّلَ مِنْهُمْ مِنْبَرٌ وسَرِيرُ

And from lofty towers were tumbled

As dais and throne in dust did crumble

ومَنْ يأْمَنِ الدُّنْيا يَكُنْ مِثْلَ قابِضٍ

دُخاناً وإمْساكُ الدُّخانِ عَسيرُ

Whoever trusts this world will fumble

Like grasping at elusive bubble