ولَيَ الشَيبُ بعد عزلِ الشّبابِ

كُل ما كانَ حُكمُهُ للغُرابِ

Gray hair took charge once youth had been deposed,

of all that once lay under the raven’s rule.

فكأنّ الشَّبابَ عاهدَ شَيبي

فَهوَ مُستخلَفٌ لهُ في التَّصابي

It is as though youth had made a pact with my gray hair,

appointing it its successor in youthful dalliance.