يا بياضَ المشيبِ سوَّدْتَ وجهي

عند بيض الوجوه سُودِ القرونِ

O whiteness of old age, you have darkened my face

Among the white faces, the blackness of centuries

فلَعَمْرِي لأخفينَّك جهدي

عن عياني وعن عيان العيون

By my life, I will surely hide you with my effort

From my eyes and the eyes of eyes

ولعمري لأمنعنَّك أن تَضْ

حَكَ في رأسِ آسفٍ محزون

And by my life, I will surely prevent you from shining

On the head of a remorseful, saddened one

بخضابٍ فيه ابيضاض لوجهي

واسودادٌ لوجهك الملعون

With dye in which is whitening of my face

And blackening of your accursed face