فلو كان الشباب يباع بَيْعاً

لأَعطيتُ المبايِعَ ما يريدُ

If youth could be sold for money’s worth,

To the buyer I would've given all he wanted.

ولكنّ الشباب إذا تولَّى

على شَرَفٍ فمطلَبه بعيدُ

But when youth takes hold and departs,

Its demands are hard to grant.

فمن لم يتَّرِك وقتاً لوقت

وفاز بلّذَةٍ فهوَ السعيدُ

So he who does not leave some time for time,

Or wins a joy that is lasting, is fortunate indeed.