يا لَيتَ شِعري وَكَم مِن مُنيةٍ قُدِرَت

وِفقاً وَأُخرى أَتى مِن دونِها القَدَرُ

Oh, how I wish I knew how many a death was destined

For me, and how many another the Fates went past.

وَمُضمَرِ الكَشحِ يَطويهِ الضَجيعُ لَهُ

طَيَّ الحِمالَةِ لا جافٍ وَلا فَقِرُ

And how the sleek and plump, though wrinkles now infest him,

Bears yet his frame erect and walks the plain unbowed -

لَهُ شَبيهانِ لا نَقصٌ يَعيبُهُما

بِحَيثُ كانا وَلا طولٌ وَلا قِصَرُ

Two mates, alike unmarred, towering to view,

Still rightly paired in height and slenderness.