قَد رَأَيتُ القُرونَ كَيفَ تَفانَت

قَد رَأَيتُ القُرونَ كَيفَ تَفانَت

دُرِسَت ثُمَ قيلَ كانَ وَكانَت

دُرِسَت ثُمَ قيلَ كانَ وَكانَت

I have indeed seen how the generations died out.

I have seen the centuries pass away,

I have seen the generations, how they met their end,

They were effaced; then it was said, 'He once was, and she once was.'

Studied, then called history yesterday.

Effaced, until it was merely said: "He was," and "She was."

هِيَ دُنيا كَحَيَةٍ تَنَفُثُ السُم

هِيَ دُنيا كَحَيَةٍ تَنَفُثُ السُم

مَ وَإِن لانَتِ المَجَسَّةُ لانَت

مَ وَإِن لانَتِ المَجَسَّةُ لانَت

It is a world like a snake that spits poison,

This world is but a serpent foul with venom,

It is a world like a serpent spewing poison,

even if it is soft—soft to the touch.

Though it seem fair decked by art's ingenuity.

Even if its skin feels soft to the touch.

كَم أُمورٍ لَقَد تَشَدَّدتُ فيها

كَم أُمورٍ لَقَد تَشَدَّدتُ فيها

ثُمَّ هَوَّنتُها عَلَيَّ فَهانَت

ثُمَّ هَوَّنتُها عَلَيَّ فَهانَت

How many matters I have indeed been strict about,

How many things I mastered with firmness,

How many matters I once burdened myself with,

then made easier on myself, and easy they became.

Then lightly shrugged them off and cast them from me.

Then I took them lightly, and they became light.