لاdo not تفخرنَّboast (emphatic) بلحيةof a beard
لا تفخرنَّ بلحية
كثرتbecame numerous منابتهاits hair roots طويلهlong
كثرت منابتها طويله
Never boast of a beard,
Do not boast of a beard
thick in growth and long,
Whose tangled growth is long
تهويsweep downward بهاwith it عصفgusts الرياthe winds (continued next line)
تهوي بها عصف الريا
حcompletion of “the winds” كأنهاas though it were ذنبtail الفتيلهthe wick
ح كأنها ذنب الفتيله
which gusts of wind sweep downward,
The blasts of wind toss it
as though it were a wick’s tail.
Like a wisp of kindling strands
قدmay يدركattain المجدglory الفتىthe young man
قد يدرك المجد الفتى
يوماًone day ولحيتهwhile his beard قليلهscant
يوماً ولحيته قليله
A young man may attain glory
Glory may yet come to a lad
one day, though his beard is scant.
Though scant be the down on his cheeks
Sol 6.1