في الشيبِ زَجرٌ لَهُ لَو كانَ يَنزجِرُ

وَبالِغٌ منه لَولا أَنَّهُ حَجَرُ

In old age there is reproach, if only he would heed reproach,

And admonition from it, were it not that he is stone.

إِبيضَّ واحمرَّ مِن فَوديهِ واِرتَجعَت

جليّةُ الصبحِ ما قَد أَغفلَ السحرُ

My temples turned white and red from his cheeks, and

The bright morning returned that had missed the dawn.

وَللفتى مُهلةٌ في الحبِّ واسِعَةٌ

ما لَم يَمت في نَواحي رأسِهِ الشعرُ

And the youth has ample scope in love

Unless the hair starts falling from the regions of his head.

قالَت مَشيبٌ وَعشقٌ رحتَ بينهما

وَذاكَ في ذاكَ ذَنَبٌ لَيسَ يُغتَفَرُ

"Grey hair and love?" she said; "You have wandered between them!"

"That is a sin in that not to be forgiven!"