تقضى مُزاح واِستفاق طَروبُ

وَأعقب مِن بعد المشيب مَشيبُ

Jesting has passed, and the merry-maker has sobered,

And grayness has ensued, following upon graying.

أَلا لَيسَ مِن داء المَشيب طَبيب

وَلَيسَ شَباب زال عَنكَ يَؤوب

Alas, for the malady of hoariness there is no physician,

Nor does a youth that has departed from you ever return.

لَعَمري لَقَد بانَ الشَباب وَإِنَّني

عَلَيهِ لَمَحزونُ الفُؤاد كَئيب

By my life, youth has truly parted, and indeed I

Am aggrieved at heart and melancholic over its loss.

وَقلت لِضَيف الشَيب لَمّا أَلَمَّ بي

نَصيبُك مِني جفوة وَقُطوب

And I said to the guest of grayness when he descended upon me:

"Your share from me is but estrangement and a scowl;

حَرامٌ عَلَينا أَن تَنالك عِندَنا

كَرامَة بِرٍّ أَو يَمَسَّكَ طَيب

"It is forbidden for us that you should receive at our abode

"The honor of kindness, or that perfume should touch you."