أَجنِحَةُ النَملِ إِذا ما بَدَت

أَجنِحَةُ النَملِ إِذا ما بَدَت

بِجِسمِهِ دَلَّت عَلى فَقدِهِ

بِجِسمِهِ دَلَّت عَلى فَقدِهِ

When the ant’s wings begin to show,

The ant’s wings, when they appear

upon its body, they foretell its demise.

upon its body, foretell its demise.

كَذَلِكَ الأَمرَدُ ما مَوتُهُ

كَذَلِكَ الأَمرَدُ ما مَوتُهُ

إِلّا طُلوعُ الشَعرِ في خَدِّهِ

إِلّا طُلوعُ الشَعرِ في خَدِّهِ

So too the beardless youth: his death

Likewise the beardless youth: his death is nothing

is but the sprouting of hair upon his cheek.

but the sprouting of hair on his cheek.