تَرَفّعت عَن أَبناء عَصري بوحدَتي

وَلَم أَدع خلّاً في الأَنام لِنجدَتي

I have risen above the people of my time in my solitude,

And left no friend among men to come to my aid,

فَإِنّيَ مُذ جرّبتُ أَهلَ مَودَّتي

تَفَكَّرتُ في يَومَي رَخائي وَشدّتي

For since I tested those I thought were friends,

I have thought about my days of ease and hardship,

وَنادَيتُ في الأَحياء هَل مِن مُساعِدِ

فَلم ألف فيهم غَير حاكٍ وَصامِتٍ

And called out among the living, “Is there anyone to help me?”

But found among them none but chatterers and mutes,

وَمُعتَذِرٍ شاكٍ وَمُغض وَباهِتِ

وَكَم سمتهم عَوني لآتٍ وَفائِتٍ

Excusers, doubters, sullen faces, and pale.

How often did I aid them when help was late!

فَلم أَرَ فيما ساءني غَير شامتِ

وَلَم أَرَ فيما سَرّني غَير حاسِدِ

Yet when misfortune struck me I saw none but those who rejoiced,

And when good fortune came to me I saw none but the envious.