أَلا قاطِعوا الدُنيا فقد واصَلَت أَذى

بَنِيها وآلَت أَنَّها ليسَ تُحسِنُ

Alas! The world's harm has connected,

Its children have decided it cannot be kind.

فمَن يَرجُ أَمناً من مَكايِدِ حربها

يَكُن كالذي يرجو لما ليسَ يُمكِنُ

Who hopes for safety from its war's plots,

Is like one who hopes for what cannot happen.

فبَينا تَرَى نَعماءَها قد تحرَّكت

تُعاضُ ببؤسٍ ثمَّ في الحينِ تَسكُنُ

While its prosperity seems to stir,

It is stung by misery, then in an instant, it rests.