وَلَقَدْ تَلَقَّيْتُ الصَّباحَ بِمِثْلِهِ

لا بَلْ بِأَشْرَقَ مِنْهُ في لأْلائِهِ

I greeted the morning in the same way

No, but more radiant in its splendor

وَرَضِيتُ مِنْ وَصْلِ الحَبيبِ وبُعْدِهِ

بِدُنُوِّ مَنْزِلِهِ وَطُولِ جَفائِهِ

And I was content with the union of the beloved and his distance

With the nearness of his abode and the length of his disdain

وَسَمِعْتُ عَذْلَ عَواذِلي لَمّا مَشَى

إِصْباحُ هَذا الشَيْبِ في إِمْسَائِهِ

And I heard the reproach of reproachers when he walked away

This grey morning in its evening

سَأَعودُ في غَيِّ الشَّبابِ وإِنْ غَدا

رُشْدُ المَشِيبِ مُقَنِّعي بِرِدَائِهِ

I will return to the folly of youth tomorrow

Though the wisdom of old age disguises me in its cloak