كأني بالحمام أصاب ركنى

فمال وأى ركن لا يميل

It is as though death has struck my pillar,

and it has bent—for what pillar does not bend?

وأدركني ونجم صباى عال

فخَّر النجم وازدوج الأفوال

and overtaken me while the star of my youth is high;

so the star has fallen, and the two settings have coincided.

فلا يغرركما ولدىَّ بعدى

زُها الدنيا ومنظرها الجميل

So, my two sons, after I am gone, do not be deceived

by the world's splendor and its beautiful appearance.