يَقولونَ نَم في هِدنَةِ الدَهرِ آمِناً

يَقولونَ نَم في هِدنَةِ الدَهرِ آمِناً

فَقُلتُ وَمَن لي أَن يُهادِنَني الدَهرُ

فَقُلتُ وَمَن لي أَن يُهادِنَني الدَهرُ

They say, “Sleep safely in Time’s truce.”

They say, rest assured, for fate has made peace with you,

So I said, “And who can assure me that Time will make a truce with me?”

But I said, who can make fate be at peace with me?

هَلِ الحَربُ إِلّا ما تَرونَ نَقيصَةً

هَلِ الحَربُ إِلّا ما تَرونَ نَقيصَةً

مِنَ العُمرِ أَو عُدمٌ مِنَ المالِ أَو عُسرُ

مِنَ العُمرِ أَو عُدمٌ مِنَ المالِ أَو عُسرُ

Is war anything but what you see—a shortening

Is not war just what you see as damages done

of life, or a lack of money, or hardship?

To life, wealth lost, or confronting poverty?

فَلا صُلحَ حَتّى لا يَكونَ لِواجِدٍ

فَلا صُلحَ حَتّى لا يَكونَ لِواجِدٍ

ثَراءٌ وَلا يَبقى عَلى وافِرٍ وَفرُ

ثَراءٌ وَلا يَبقى عَلى وافِرٍ وَفرُ

So there is no peace until one with means has no

No truce is possible until no wealthy person

wealth, and no abundance remains with one who has plenty.

Remains, nor does abundance stay with the rich.