لاح شيبي فظلت أمرح فيه

مرح الطّرفِ في اللجام المحلَّى

My hair turned white, yet I kept being playful

The playfulness of an eye in a polished bridle

وتولّى الشباب فازددت غيّاً

في ميادين باطلي إذ تولَّى

And youth turned away, so I became more perverse

In the arenas of my futile games when it turned away

إنّ من ساءه الزمان بشيب

لأحقّ امرىء بأن يتسلَّى

Indeed, he to whom time was unkind with white hair

Is most deserving of a man to enjoy himself

أتراني أسوء نفسي لما

ساءني الدهر لا لَعَمْري كلاَّ

Do you see me tormenting myself for what

Time was unkind to me? No, by my life, not at all