تعشقتُه شَيخاً كَأنَّ مَشيبَه

عَلى وَجنَتيهِ ياسمين عَلى وَردِ

I fell in love with him an old man, as if his grey hair

Were jasmine upon his cheeks, upon a rose

أَخا العَقلِ يَدري ما يراد مِن النهى

أَمنتُ عَلَيهِ مِن رَقيبٍ وَمِن ضدِّ

O rational brother, he knows what is implied by prohibition

I secured him from any watcher and rival

وَقالوا الوَرى قسمان في شرعة الهَوى

لسود اللحى ناسٌ وَناسٌ إِلى المُردِ

And they said people in the legislation of love are two kinds

Black bearded men, and people with hair gone white

أَلا إِنَّني لَو كُنتُ أَصبو لأمردٍ

صَبَوت إِلى هَيفاءَ مائِسَةِ القَدِّ

Lo! Had I been giving preference for white-haired

I would have inclined towards a smooth-cheeked maiden

وَسود اللحى أَبصَرت فيهم مُشارِكاً

فَأَحبَبتُ أَن أَبقى بِأَبيضهم وَحدي

And I saw the black beards sharing with me

So I wished to remain with their white-haired alone