1. وَهَيهَاتَ مشن رَيب الزَّمَان وَرِيحُهُ

    شَئَامِيةَ أَلقَت بِدَوّ يَمان

    And far, far away, [perhaps through] Time's vicissitudes and its wind—

    A northerly wind that cast me into a southern wilderness.

  2. أَمَوئِلَنَا الأَسمَى حَنَانك إِنني

    وَحِيدٌ وَمَرمِيّ بِيَ الرَّجَوَان

    O our loftiest refuge, grant your mercy, for I am

    Alone, tossed from side to side.

  3. وَقَد سَدّد الدَّهرُ الخَئُونُ لِمَقتَلي

    سِنَانِي هِيَاجٍ فِي زَمَانِ أَمَانِ

    And treacherous Time has aimed, to kill me,

    Two spearheads of turmoil in a time of safety:

  4. سِنَانَ لِسَانٍ فِي تَعَقُّبِ سَعِيهِ

    وَآخَر مِن تَسدِيدِ عَارِي بَيَان

    A tongue's spearhead in pursuit of its purpose,

    And another aimed by one devoid of eloquence.

  5. فَسَهمَانِ فِي قَلبِي وَقَلبِيَ وَاحِدٌ

    وَلَو كَانَ سَهماً وَاحِداً لَكَفَانِي

    So two arrows are in my heart, and my heart is one;

    And had there been a single arrow, it would have sufficed me.

  6. فَفُكُوا إِسَارِي مِن إِحَالَةِ مُعسِرٍ

    فَإِنِّي وَرَبِّ المَكرُمَاتِ لَعَانِ

    So free me from my bonds over an insolvent man's transfer of debt;

    For, by the Lord of noble deeds, I am indeed a captive.