1. الآنَ لَمّا صارَ حَوضَ الوارِدِ

    وَغَدا وَأَصبَحَ عُرضَةً لِلرائِدِ

    Now that he has become the water-seeker’s trough,

    And has come to be, and is now, a target for the scout,

  2. دَسَّت إِلَيهِ الحادِثاتُ تَحِيَّةً

    فيها صَلاحٌ لِلغُلامِ الفاسِدِ

    Life’s vicissitudes slipped him a greeting,

    With good in it for the corrupt youth.

  3. فَاليَومَ عُوِّضَ فَرحَةً مِن تَرحَةٍ

    وَاليَومَ بُدِّلَ راحِماً مِن حاسِدِ

    So today he was compensated with joy in place of sorrow,

    And today he was given someone merciful in place of an envier.

  4. جَعَلَ الكِتابَةَ لِلإِجارَةِ سُترَةً

    وَاِعتَلَّ ثُمَّ أَتى بِعُذرٍ بارِدِ

    He made writing a cover for hire,

    And made excuses, then offered a cold excuse.

  5. فَإِذا تَشاغَلَ بِالحَديثِ فَقُل لَهُ

    دَع ذا أَتَعرِفُ دَربَ عَبدِ الواحِدِ

    So if he busies himself with talk, say to him:

    Leave this—do you know the lane of Abd al-Wahid?