1. لَولا الحَوادِثُ لَم أَركُن إِلى أَحَدٍ

    مِنَ الأَنامِ وَلَم أَخلُد إِلى وَطَنِ

    Were it not for misfortunes, I would lean on no one

    Among humankind, nor settle in any homeland.

  2. وَكُنتُ في كُلِّ تيهٍ صاحِباً لِقَطاً

    في الوِردِ قَطنِيَ مِن سَعدٍ وَمِن قَطَنِ

    And in every wilderness I would be a companion to sandgrouse;

    At the watering, they would suffice me in place of Saʿd and Qaṭan.

  3. حَليفُ وَجناءَ تَرمي بِالوَجينِ شَفاً

    مِنها وَتَجهَلُ مَعنى الحَوضِ وَالعَطَنِ

    A companion of a sturdy she-camel, casting upon hard ground a remnant

    Of herself, and knowing nothing of trough or waterside resting-place.

  4. وَغَيَّضَ السَيرُ عَينَيها فَلَو وَرَدَت

    جُمَّيهِما الطَيرُ لَم تَشرَب بِلا شَطَنِ

    And travel has drained her eyes; should there come

    Birds to their pools, they could not drink without a long rope.

  5. وَهَل أَلومُ غَبِيّاً في غَباوَتِهِ

    وَبِالقَضاءِ أَتَتهُ قِلَّةُ الفِطَنِ

    And should I blame a fool for his foolishness,

    When fate has brought him scant understanding?