وَعايبٍ عابَني بِشَيب

وَعايبٍ عابَني بِشَيب

لَم يُفدَ لَمّا أَلَمَّ وَقته

لَم يُفدَ لَمّا أَلَمَّ وَقته

Many a faultfinder has faulted me for gray hair—

And a faultfinder reproached me for gray hair,

his blame availed nothing once its appointed hour came.

Which was not redeemed when its time came.

فَقُلتُ إِذ عابَني سفاها

فَقُلتُ إِذ عابَني سفاها

يا عايِبَ الشَّيبِ لا بَلَغته

يا عايِبَ الشَّيبِ لا بَلَغته

So, when he mocked me in his folly, I said:

So I said, when he foolishly reproached me:

O faultfinder of gray hair, may you never live to reach it.

O critic of gray hair, may you never reach it!