إِني أَرى الشُعرَاء أَفنوا دَهرَهُم

إِني أَرى الشُعرَاء أَفنوا دَهرَهُم

في وَصف كُل حَبيبة وَحَبيب

في وَصف كُل حَبيبة وَحَبيب

I see that poets have spent their lives

I see the poets spent their lives

Describing every beloved woman and beloved man.

Describing every lover and beloved

وَمَضوا وَلَم يَحظوا بِوَصل مِنهُما

وَمَضوا وَلَم يَحظوا بِوَصل مِنهُما

بِتَأسف وَتَلهف وَنحيب

بِتَأسف وَتَلهف وَنحيب

They passed on without attaining union with either,

Then passed away, gaining no union with them,

With regret, yearning, and sobbing.

With regret, yearning, and weeping.

وَسِواهُم يَحظى بِمَن وَصَفوا لَهُ

وَسِواهُم يَحظى بِمَن وَصَفوا لَهُ

فَهمو مشن الفواد في التَرغيب

فَهمو مشن الفواد في التَرغيب

While another wins the one they described to him.

While others gained those they praised

So they are [like procurers] in stirring desire;

So they filled hearts with temptation.

لَكنما الفواد تَظفر بِالعَطا

لَكنما الفواد تَظفر بِالعَطا

وَهَمو بِمَقت الناس وَالتَكذيب

وَهَمو بِمَقت الناس وَالتَكذيب

Yet [procurers] win gifts,

But hearts win prizes

While they earn people's hatred and accusations of lying.

While they face people's blame and lies.