1. Has not the time come when gray hair is a warning,
Yes, and it is similar to demise and a peer,
١. أَلَم يَأتِهِ أَنَّ المَشيبَ نَذيرُ
بَلى وَشَبيهٌ لِلرَدى وَنَظيرُ
2. That the people of this world, with gray hair and youth,
Have over them absence and presence,
٢. وَأَنَّ بَني الدُنيا مَعَ الشَيبِ وَالصِبا
لَهُم وَعَلَيهِم غَيبَةٌ وَحُضورُ
3. That the steeds of life are illusions, and if they shine,
They are warnings, and as for its gray hairs, they are a harbinger,
٣. وَأَنَّ خُيولَ العَيشِ دُهمٌ وَإِن تُنِر
فَنُذرٌ وَأَمّا شُهبُهُ فَبَشيرُ
4. That the stars of the night travel disappearing,
But the stars of gray hair do not disappear,
٤. وَأَنَّ نُجومَ اللَيلِ تَسري غَوائِراً
وَلَكِن نُجومُ الشَيبِ لَيسَ تَغورُ
5. That I have repelled the conceit of youth,
And it is no wonder that the conceited one repels,
٥. وَأَنَّ مُعاراً مِن شَبابٍ رَدَدتُهُ
وَلا عَجَبٌ أَن يَستَرِدَّ مُعيرُ
6. The sun of passion has hidden behind its veil,
And the day of gray hair has narrowed, so it is short,
٦. تَوارَت بِهِ شَمسُ الهَوى بِحِجابِها
وَضاقَ نَهارُ الشَيبِ فَهوَ قَصيرُ
7. And we have shed our pride with youth,
And it is enough humiliation to be called elderly.
٧. وَإِنّا خَلَعنا الكِبرِياءَ مَعَ الصِبا
وَحَسبُكَ ذُلّا أَن يُقالَ كَبيرُ