نظَرت إليَّ بعينِ من لم يَعدلِ

نظَرت إليَّ بعينِ من لم يَعدلِ

لمَّا تمكنَ طرفُها مِن مَقتلي

لمَّا تمكنَ طرفُها مِن مَقتلي

She looked at me with the eye of one who showed no fairness,

She looked at me with the eyes of one who is no longer equitable,

when her gaze had gained mastery over my fatal weak spot.

When her glance had the power to slay me,

لما أضاءَت بالمَشيبِ مفارقي

لما أضاءَت بالمَشيبِ مفارقي

صَدَّت صُدودَ مُفارقٍ مُتجمِّلِ

صَدَّت صُدودَ مُفارقٍ مُتجمِّلِ

When the partings of my hair shone with gray,

When my temples were lit up with grey hairs of parting,

she turned away like one who parts with dignified composure.

She became averse like one who has put on his cloak.

فَجعلتُ أطلبُ وصلَها بِتَملقٍ

فَجعلتُ أطلبُ وصلَها بِتَملقٍ

والشيبُ يغمزُها بألا تفعلي

والشيبُ يغمزُها بألا تفعلي

So I began to seek union with her through flattery,

So I took to wooing her with flattery to gain access to her,

while gray hair winked at her: 'Do not do it.'

While the grey hairs were winking at her not to do it.