1. صلت على الدهر فلم يعب بي

    ولا انثنى للتّيه والصول

    I assailed Time, but it paid me no heed,

    Nor did it yield to arrogance and assault.

  2. وقلت يا دهر اتّئد بعدما

    شكوت فاسترجع في القول

    I said, 'O Time, be gentle,' after

    I complained; then it repeated its words.

  3. لما رأني قد تخليت في

    أمري من القوّة والحول

    When it saw that I had become bereft, in

    My affairs, of strength and power,

  4. ردّ إليّ الدهر لمّا رمى

    شمّ الفسا والإذن في البول

    Time, when it struck, restored to me

    The smelling of silent farts and the granting of leave to urinate.