قالت البيض حين شبت تغزل

قالت البيض حين شبت تغزل

وترحَّل عن ودّنا بسلام

وترحَّل عن ودّنا بسلام

The fair women said when I grew gray, “Sing of love,

The eggs said, when they hatched, spinning rhymes,

and depart from our love in peace.

And bid our affection farewell in peace:

ما رأينا المشيب إلا كبلح

ما رأينا المشيب إلا كبلح

أبيض بارد قليل المقام

أبيض بارد قليل المقام

We have seen gray hair as nothing but unripe dates—

We have not known gray hair except as unripe dates -

white, cold, and short-lived.”

White, cold, and brief in stay.