يَقولونَ ماشِ الدَهرَ مِن حَيثُ ما مَشى

يَقولونَ ماشِ الدَهرَ مِن حَيثُ ما مَشى

فَكَيفَ بِماشٍ يَستَقيمُ وَأَظلَعُ

فَكَيفَ بِماشٍ يَستَقيمُ وَأَظلَعُ

They say, “Keep pace with Time wherever it walks.”

They say go with time wherever it goes

Then how can I keep pace with one who walks straight, while I limp?

How can one go straight when time is crooked?

وَما واثِقٌ بِالدَهرِ إِلاّ كَراقِدٍ

وَما واثِقٌ بِالدَهرِ إِلاّ كَراقِدٍ

عَلى فَضلِ ثَوبِ الظِلِّ وَالظِلُّ يُسرِعُ

عَلى فَضلِ ثَوبِ الظِلِّ وَالظِلُّ يُسرِعُ

And one who trusts in Time is but like a sleeper

None feels safe with time but those asleep

Upon the trailing hem of shadow’s robe, while the shadow hastens on.

In the shade of clothes, while shade is quick

وَقالوا تَعَلَّل إِنَّما العَيشُ نَومَةٌ

وَقالوا تَعَلَّل إِنَّما العَيشُ نَومَةٌ

يُقَضّى وَيَمضي طارِقُ الهَمِّ أَجمَعُ

يُقَضّى وَيَمضي طارِقُ الهَمِّ أَجمَعُ

And they said, “Take comfort: life is but a spell of sleep

They say, just excuse - life is but a nap

That ends, and sorrow’s night-visitor departs altogether.”

Done, and the maker of sorrows is gone

وَلَو كانَ نَوماً ساكِناً لَحَمِدتُهُ

وَلَو كانَ نَوماً ساكِناً لَحَمِدتُهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ نَومٌ مَروعٌ مُفَزَّعُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ نَومٌ مَروعٌ مُفَزَّعُ

And if it were a peaceful sleep, I would praise it;

If it were restful sleep, I'd praise it

But it is a sleep beset by terror and panic.

But it's a frightened sleep, alarmed