وَقائِلَةٍ مالي رَأَيتُكَ مُعدِماً

وَمِثلُكَ لا تَخشى الكَسادَ بِضائِعُه

A woman said, why have I seen you destitute,

One like you does not fear ruin when his wealth is lost,

فَقُلتُ الَّذي كُنّا نَعيشُ بِفَضلِهِ

وَنَحنُ مَوالي جودِهِ وَصَنائِعُه

I said, he whom we used to live by his generosity,

And we are loyal to his bounty and gifts,

رَمَتهُ اللَيالي عَن ذَخائِرِ مالِهِ

بِفادِحِ خَطبٍ مُسلَمٍ مَن يُقارِعُه

The nights have deprived him of the treasures of his money,

With grave misfortunes, who can confront him,

فَلا تَعجَبي مِن سوءٍ حالي فَإِنَّهُ

إِذا غاضَ ماءُ البَحرِ ماتَت ضَفادِعُه

So do not wonder at my bad state, for when

The sea water recedes, its frogs die.