1. تَهَزَّأَت عِرسِيَ وَاِستَنكَرَت

    شَيبي فَفيها جَنَفٌ وَاِزوِرار

    My wife mocked and disapproved of

    My gray hair; she shows unfairness and aversion.

  2. لا تُكثِري هُزءاً وَلا تَعجَبي

    فَلَيسَ بِالشَيبِ عَلى المَرءِ عار

    Do not mock so much, nor be astonished,

    For gray hair is no disgrace to a man.

  3. عَمرَكِ هَل تَدرينَ أَنَّ الفَتى

    شَبابُهُ ثَوبٌ عَلَيه مُعار

    By your life, do you know that a young man's

    Youth is a garment lent to him?

  4. وَلا أَرى مالاً إِذا لَم يَكُن

    زَغفٌ وَخَطّارٌ وَنَهدٌ مُغار

    And I see no wealth unless there is

    Fine chainmail, a swaying spear, and a sturdy, firmly built steed,

  5. مُستَشرِفُ القُطرَينِ عَبلُ الشَوى

    مُحَنَّبُ الرِجلَينِ فيهِ اِقوِرار

    High at both ends, stout of limb,

    With bowed hind legs and a lean, taut frame.

  6. وَأَطرُقُ الحانِيَّ في بَيتِهِ

    بِالشَربِ حَتّى تُستَباحَ العُقار

    And I visit the tavern keeper by night in his house,

    With drinking companions, until we make free with the wine.

  7. فَذاكَ عَصرٌ قَد خَلا وَالفَتى

    تُلوي لَياليهِ بِهِ وَالنَهار

    So that was a time now past; and the young man

    Is carried away by his nights and the day.

  8. لا يَنفَعُ الهارِبَ إيغالُهُ

    وَلا يُنَجّي ذا الحَذارِ الحَذار

    The fugitive gains nothing by going far,

    Nor does caution save the cautious man.