وَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ الدَّهْرَ يَخْطُبُ خُطْبَةً

وَأَيَّامُهُ تَعْدُو عَلَيَّ بَنَوْباتِ

When I saw time delivering a speech

And its days rushing by with quick steps

عَصَيَتُ زَماناً قَدْ تَجاسرَ صَرْفُهُ

وَأَتْبَعْتُ يَوْمَ الْهَمِّ يَوْمَ لَذَاذَاتِ

I disobeyed an era whose course had grown bold

And pursued pleasure amid days of worry

وأَيْقَنْتُ أَنِّي مُهْجَةٌ مُسْتَعارَةٌ

تُرَدُّ إلى مِلْكِ الْمُعِيرِ بِغُصّاتِ

And I knew I was borrowed finery

To be returned to the lender in tatters

فَيا لَيْتَنِي أَمْضَيْتُ مَا كُنْتُ عازماً

عَلَيْه ليَشْفِي دَاءَ صَدْري وَلَوْعاتي

Oh, would that I had spent as I had resolved

To cure my heart's sickness and burning pangs