أنِستُ بأيَّامِ الشَّبابِ وظِلَّها

أنِستُ بأيَّامِ الشَّبابِ وظِلَّها

وآنسْتُ دَهراً في جِواري الجَوارِيا

وآنسْتُ دَهراً في جِواري الجَوارِيا

I found delight in the days of youth and their shade,

I enjoyed the days of youth and their shade

And long kept the maidens company in my neighborhood.

And I had a good time with my beautiful maidens

فلّما رأيْتُ الشَّيْبَ يبسِمُ ضاحِكاً

فلّما رأيْتُ الشَّيْبَ يبسِمُ ضاحِكاً

بكَيتُ فأخجَلْتُ العُيونَ الجَوارِيا

بكَيتُ فأخجَلْتُ العُيونَ الجَوارِيا

Then, when I saw gray hair smiling and laughing,

But when I saw gray hair smiling mockingly

I wept and put the flowing springs to shame.

I cried and made the eyes of the maidens embarrassed

وقلتُ غَدا زَنْدي بِشَيْبي كابِياً

وقلتُ غَدا زَنْدي بِشَيْبي كابِياً

وكنتُ أراهُ يقدحُ الثَّلْجَ وَارِيا

وكنتُ أراهُ يقدحُ الثَّلْجَ وَارِيا

And I said: my fire-stick has lost its spark through my graying,

And I said tomorrow my hair will be white like cotton

Though I used to see it strike fire from snow, ablaze.

While I used to see it dark and flowing

فظُنَّ دِماءً بالدُّموعِ سفحْتُها

فظُنَّ دِماءً بالدُّموعِ سفحْتُها

وما بِدُموعٍٍ قد مَراها الجوى رِيا

وما بِدُموعٍٍ قد مَراها الجوى رِيا

So take the tears I shed for blood—

So they thought it was blood I shed in tears

Not tears that burning grief has drawn forth in abundance.

While it was not blood, just tears shed in grief