ضَحِكَ الزَّمَانُ إِلَيَّ عَنْ إعْتَابِ

وَاَعَارَنِي سَمْعاً لبَثِّ عِتَابِ

Time laughed at me, absolving my reproach,

And turned a deaf ear to my words of blame.

رَمَدٌ بِعَيْنِي صَرْفُهُ عَنْ لَحْظَتِي

إِذْ كَانَ بِي فِي شِرَّتِي وشَبَابِي

My eyes grew dim observing his aversion

When in my blossoming youth with me he played.

سَابِقْ بِلَذَّتِكَ الشَّبَابَ فَإِنَّنِي

أصْبَحْتُ فِيهِ مُجَرِّراً أَثْوَابِي

Hasten, delight, to outrun youth while you may,

For I am dragged, my garments in hand.

وَعلِمْتُ أَنَّ الدَّهْرَ حَرْبُ شَبِيبَتِي

فَخَلَسْتُ فِي غَفَلاتِهِ آرَابِي

I've learned time wars against my youth,

So I slipped away while heedless was he.