بَكَيتُ لِقُربِ الأَجَل

وَبُعدِ فَواتِ الأَمَل

I wept for the nearness of death,

And the loss of hope's retreat,

وَوافِدِ شَيب طَرا

بِعَقبِ شَبابٍ رَحَل

As strands of gray approach

Upon youth's vanished feet.

شَبابٌ كَأَن لَم يَكُن

وَشَيبٌ كَأَن لَم يَزَل

That youth which was not, it seems,

And old age that forever deems,

طَواكَ بَشيرُ البَقاء

وَحَلَّ بَشيرُ الأَجَل

Announcing the final dawn,

Foretelling the final song.

طَوى صاحِبٌ صاحِبا

كَذاكَ اِختِلافُ الدُوَل

One companion now leaves another

Just so do kingdoms shift and wander.