قَد خَفَّ جِرمي وَصارَ جُرمي

أَثقَلَ مِن هَضبَةٍ عَلَيّا

My sins have faded, yet my shame remains,

Weighing on me heavier than mountain chains.

نَفسي أَولى بِما عَناها

مِن هَؤُلاءِ وَهَؤُلَيّا

My soul knows best what burdens it sustains,

More than all those fools and foolish brains.

لَولا تَقَضّي الشَبابِ عَنّي

عَصَيتُ في الغَيِّ عاذِلِيّا

If not for lost youth, which from me now wanes,

I'd disobey and mock those who complain.

فَهَل تَراني أَكونُ بَرّاً

لَو رُدَّ عَصرُ الصِبا إِلَيّا

Could I be virtuous if time brought me again

The spring of youth that’s passed and left me drained?

إِيّاكَ وَالخَودَ أَن تُخَلّى

مُلبِسَةً جيدَها حُلِيّا

Beware the rosy cheek left bare, my dear,

Adorned with jewels around her ears.

كَأَنَّها ظَبيَةٌ خَذولٌ

مُرضِعَةٌ بِالضُحى طُلَيّا

She seems a doe, lazy and insincere,

Suckling babes in the morn, lacking fears.

يا هِندُ كوني مَعَ الهَوافي

وَجانِبي الخَفضَ يا عُلَيّا

O Hind, be with the noble and sincere,

And avoid the lowly, O most dear.