لَعَمرُكَ ما بي نُجعَةٌ فَأَرومَها

لَعَمرُكَ ما بي نُجعَةٌ فَأَرومَها

وَإِنّي عَلى طولِ الزَمانِ لَمُجدِبُ

وَإِنّي عَلى طولِ الزَمانِ لَمُجدِبُ

By your life, I have no urge to seek fresh pasture,

By your life, I have no intention to compose poetry,

Yet throughout all time I am indeed drought-stricken.

Though I have long been resourceful.

حَمَلتُ عَلى الأُلى الحَمامَ فَلَم أَقُل

حَمَلتُ عَلى الأُلى الحَمامَ فَلَم أَقُل

يُغَنّي وَلَكِن قُلتُ يَبكي وَيَندُبُ

يُغَنّي وَلَكِن قُلتُ يَبكي وَيَندُبُ

I understood the doves in relation to those of old, so I did not say,

I carried the pigeons on my shoulders, yet said nothing

"It sings," but said, "It weeps and laments."

To cheer myself; rather I said they weep and lament.

وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الحادِثاتِ كَثيرَةٌ

وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الحادِثاتِ كَثيرَةٌ

وَغالِبُهُنَّ الفَظُّ لا المُتَحَدِّبُ

وَغالِبُهُنَّ الفَظُّ لا المُتَحَدِّبُ

That is because calamities are many,

That is because calamities are many,

And most of them are harsh, not compassionate.

And most often cruel, not gentle.

وَكُلٌّ أَديبٍ أَي سَيُدعى إِلى الرَدى

وَكُلٌّ أَديبٍ أَي سَيُدعى إِلى الرَدى

مِنَ الأَدبِ لا أَنَّ الفَتى مُتَأَدِّبُ

مِنَ الأَدبِ لا أَنَّ الفَتى مُتَأَدِّبُ

And everyone is adīb—'invited'—that is, will be summoned to death—

Every man of letters, alas, will be led to destruction

From adab, 'invitation,' not because the young man is cultured.

By his literary skill, not that the youth is well-mannered.