Sol 6.1

  1. وَما تَبَقّي سِهامَ المَرءِ كَثرَتُها

    فَاِقضِ الحَياةَ وَأَنتَ الصارِمُ الفَردُ

    Nor does their abundance preserve a man's arrows.

    So live out your life as the lone, keen-edged sword.

  2. وَالشَيبُ شابوا عَلى جَهلٍ وَمَنقِصَةٍ

    وَالمُردُ في كُلِّ أَمرٍ باطِلٍ مَرَدوا

    And the gray-haired grew gray in ignorance and deficiency,

    And the beardless youths grew practiced in every vain pursuit.

  3. وَالعَيشُ كَالماءِ تَغشاهُ حَوائِمُنا

    فَصادِرونَ وَقَومٌ إِثرَهُم وَرَدوا

    And life is like water, which our thirsty ones approach;

    So some depart, and others come to the water in their wake.

  4. وَمَدُّ وَقتِيَ مِثلُ القِصرِ غايَتُهُ

    وَفي الهَلاكِ تَساوى الدُرُّ وَالبَرَدُ

    And my time, long or short, reaches the same end;

    And in destruction, pearls and hailstones are equal.

  5. يا رُبَّ أَفواهِ غيدٍ أُملِأَت شَنَباً

    ثُمَّ اِستَحالَ فَفي أَوطانِهِ الدَرَدُ

    Oh, how many mouths of graceful women were filled with the cool sweetness of teeth,

    Then it changed, and toothlessness dwelt in its former homes.

  6. يَغدوا عَلى دِرعِهِ الزَرّادُ يُحكِمُها

    وَهَل يُنَجّيهِ مِمّا قُدِّرَالزَرَدُ

    The mail-maker works on his armor in the morning, making it strong;

    And will the chain mail save him from what has been decreed?

  7. عَجِبتُ لِلمُدنِفِ المُشفي عَلى تَلَفٍ

    وَمَن يُحَدِّثُ عَنهُ بِالرَدى خَلَدوا

    I marveled at the gravely ill man on the brink of death,

    And have those who speak of his death lived forever?