لقد كنت أرجو في صبايَ وصبوتي

مغازلة الغرّ القوافي التي تحلو

In my youth and youthful ardor, I once hoped

to court the radiant rhymes that delight.

فلما انْقضى عصر الشباب وشارفت

منيَّة مثلي ما لها في الورَى مثل

But when the age of youth had passed and there drew near

my death—which, like me, has no equal among creation—

فجاءَت بدرجٍ عندما أنا دارج

وجاءَت بوصلٍ حيث لا ينفع الوصل

they came in a scroll just as I was passing away,

and came bearing union where union is of no avail.