أَشابَ عذاري جَفوة وَنَفارُ

أَشابَ عذاري جَفوة وَنَفارُ

وَكُدتُ بِأَن أَلهو فَزارَ وَقار

وَكُدتُ بِأَن أَلهو فَزارَ وَقار

Coldness and aversion have grayed my sideburns.

My youthful vigor grew cold and distant

And I was about to make merry; then solemnity came to visit.

I almost lost my dignity in play and jest

كَأَن الشَباب الروق لَيلة زائر

كَأَن الشَباب الروق لَيلة زائر

أَلَمَّ بِها قَبل التَمام نَهار

أَلَمَّ بِها قَبل التَمام نَهار

As though youth in its bloom were a visitor’s night,

As if my fine youth were a visitor for the night

Daylight came upon it before it was complete.

Who left before the break of dawn