يا صاح لا تذكر زَماناً قَد مَضى

رَغداً فَتَدعو العَيش أَن يَتنغَّصا

O friend, do not mention a past time

That was once prosperous, lest you make life seem bitter.

شيمُ الزَمان تَغيّر وَتَقلّب

فَلَكم أَطاع لَنا الزَمان وَكَم عَصى

It is the way of time to change and shift,

How often has time obeyed us, and how often disobeyed!

أَسفاً إِذا كانَ التَأَسّف شافياً

عَمَّ البَلاء فَأيّ قَلب خصّصا

Regret avails us nothing when regret cannot mend,

Misfortune is so rife — what heart is left unscathed?

كانَت عَصا سَيفاً قاطِعاً

وَالآن أَصبَح سَيفهم شبه العَصا

Their staff was once a cutting sword,

Now their sword is but a staff in semblance.