لا يبعدن عصر الشباب ولا

لا يبعدن عصر الشباب ولا

لذاته ونباته النضر

لذاته ونباته النضر

May the time of youth never pass away, nor

Do not let the spring of youth deceive you

Its pleasures and its fresh, flourishing growth,

With its splendor and blooming flowers

والمرشفات من الخدود كإي

والمرشفات من الخدود كإي

ماض الغمام صواحب القطر

ماض الغمام صواحب القطر

And kisses drawn from cheeks, like the flash-

With cheeks blushing like the rain clouds

ing of clouds that accompany the rain,

That pour down showers

وطراد خيل مثلها التقتا

وطراد خيل مثلها التقتا

لحفيظةٍ ومقاعد الخمر

لحفيظةٍ ومقاعد الخمر

And cavalry skirmishes, when matched forces met

And horses racing as if they met

To defend their honor, and gatherings over wine.

At the drinking den with flowing wine

لولا أولئك ما حفلت متى

لولا أولئك ما حفلت متى

غولبت في حرج إلى قبر

غولبت في حرج إلى قبر

Were it not for those, I would not care when

If not for them, I wouldn't have reveled when

I was overcome and borne on a bier to a grave.

I struggled and headed towards my grave

هزئت زنيبة أن رأت ثرمي

هزئت زنيبة أن رأت ثرمي

وأن انحنى لتقادم ظهري

وأن انحنى لتقادم ظهري

Zunaybah mocked me because she saw my missing teeth,

Zainab mocked me when she saw

And because my back had bent with advancing age.

My back bending from old age

من بعدها عهدت فأدلفني

من بعدها عهدت فأدلفني

يوم يجيء وليلة تسري

يوم يجيء وليلة تسري

Since she once knew me, I have been made to shuffle

After her, I relied on days

By each coming day and each passing night,

That come and nights that flow

حتى كأني خاتلٌ قنصا

حتى كأني خاتلٌ قنصا

والمرء بعد تمامه يحري

والمرء بعد تمامه يحري

Until I seem a hunter stealthily stalking game:

As if I were a prowling hunter

And a man declines after reaching his prime.

And man after his prime wanders

لا تهزئي مني زينب فما

لا تهزئي مني زينب فما

في ذاك من عجب ولا سخر

في ذاك من عجب ولا سخر

Do not mock me, Zaynab, for there is nothing

Do not mock me Zainab, for there is

Strange in that, nor any cause for derision.

No wonder or jest in that

أو لم تري لقمان أهلكه

أو لم تري لقمان أهلكه

ما اقتات من سنة ومن شهر

ما اقتات من سنة ومن شهر

Have you not seen how Luqman was destroyed

Have you not seen Luqman, destroyed

By the years and months on which he fed,

By the years and months he lived

وبقاء نسر كلما انقرضت

وبقاء نسر كلما انقرضت

أيّامه عادت إلى نسر

أيّامه عادت إلى نسر

And a vulture's lifespan—whenever

And the eagle, whenever its days are done

Its days ended, they were renewed in another vulture?

Returns to being an eagle once more

ما طال من أمدٍ على البد

ما طال من أمدٍ على البد

رجعت محورتهُ إلى قصر

رجعت محورتهُ إلى قصر

However long a span passed over [Lubad],

However long it takes, what is bent

Its outcome returned to brevity.

Returns erect to the palace

ولقد حلبت الدهر أشطرهُ

ولقد حلبت الدهر أشطرهُ

وعلمت ما آتي من الأمر

وعلمت ما آتي من الأمر

And I have indeed milked Time from all its teats,

For I have milked fate halfway

And learned what course to take in affairs.

And learned what comes from destiny