لا أظلم الشيب فمن قبله

ما كان لي في طيب عيشٍ نصيب

The gray hairs do me no injustice, for before them

I had no share in the delight of a happy life.

كلاَّ ولا قبلَ سواد الصّبا

كأنَّما أبيضُ خدِّي مشيب

No, nor even before the blackness of youth

Was my cheek as though whitened with age.