1. أَفلَحَ اِبني وَخِبتُ يَومَ تَوَلّى

    لَيتَ شِعري مَتى يَكونُ فَلاحي

    My son prospered, and I failed the day he departed.

    Would that I knew when my deliverance would come.

  2. لَجَّتِ العَينُ في الدُموعِ فَقالوا

    هَل لِذا المُبتَلى نَصيحٌ فَلاحِ

    My eye persisted in tears, and they said:

    "Has this afflicted man a sincere adviser? Then rebuke him!"

  3. مَسَّني القَرحُ وَاِستَضامَني البَغ

    يُ لِفقدانِ بُغيَتي وَاِقتِراحي

    Pain has touched me, and injustice has oppressed me,

    At the loss of my heart's desire and my choice.

  4. فاتَني واحِدي فَبَتُّ فَريداً

    ذا اِنتَشاء وَلَستُ في وَقتِ راحِ

    My only one was lost to me, so I spent the night alone,

    Intoxicated, though it was no hour for wine.

  5. سَوفَ آوي إِلى الجِبالِ فَإِنّي

    مِثل سَمِّ الخِياطِ عادَت بِطاحي

    I shall seek refuge in the mountains, for

    My broad plains have become like the eye of a needle.

  6. جَلَّ مَن كانَتِ البَسيطَةُ ماء

    فَطحاها وَما سِواهُ بِطاحِ

    Exalted is He who, when the earth was water,

    Spread it out; none besides Him spreads it.