ما إِن يُرَدُّ إِلى مُرادٍ أَوَّلِ

حَتّى يُرَدَّ إِلى زَمانٍ أَوَّلِ

No sooner is one restored to his first wish

Than he is restored to his first days.

وَالهاطِلاتُ لَهُم وَما قَنِعوا بِها

وَالراسِخاتُ فَمَن يَهُزُّ وَكَيفَ لي

And these hastening events do not satisfy them,

Nor do those that endure. Then who can be moved and how could he?

يا دَهرُ إِتن كانَ القَليلُ هُوَ الَّذي

يَبقى بِهِ ماءُ الوُجوهِ فَقَلِّلِ

O Time, if that little which remains

Is enough to moisten faces, then make it little!

لا تَسأَلِ الرِزقَ العِبادَ فَرُبَّما

يَأتي بِهِ عَفواً وَإِن لَم تَسأَلِ

Ask not sustenance of servants, for perchance

It may come freely even if thou dost not ask.