أَلا لا مَرحَباً بِفِراقِ لَيلى

وَلا بِالشَيبِ إِذ طَرَقَ الشَبابا

Alas! There is no welcome for parting with Layla,

Nor for old age when youth has knocked.

شَبابٌ بانَ مَحموداً وَشَيبٌ

ذَميمٌ لَم نَجِد لَهُما اِصطِحابا

Youthfulness has passed commendably, and old age

Is contemptible - we have not found either to be companions.

فَما مِنكَ الشَبابُ وَلَستَ مِنهُ

إِذا سَأَلَتكَ لِحيَتُكَ الخِضابا

You are not of youth, nor is youth of you

When your beard asks you for dye.

وَما يَرجو الكَبيرُ مِنَ الغَواني

إِذا ذَهَبَت شَبيبَتُهُ وَشابا

What does an old man hope for from beautiful women

When his youth and handsomeness have gone?

عَقائِلُ مِن عَقائِلِ أَهلِ نَجدٍ

وَمَكَّةَ لَم يُعَقِّلنَ الرِكابا

She is a wise woman from the wise women of Najd

And Mecca - they have not tied the stirrups.

وَلَم يَطرُدنَ أَبقَعَ يَومَ نَجدٍ

وَلا كَلباً طَرَدنَ وَلا غُرابا

Nor on the day of Najd have they chased away diseased camels,

Nor have they chased away either dogs or crows.