شابَت ذَوائِبُ لَوزِ بُقَّينِ

شابَت ذَوائِبُ لَوزِ بُقَّينِ

فَاِنهَض بِنا نَشرَب عَلى العَينِ

فَاِنهَض بِنا نَشرَب عَلى العَينِ

The tresses of Buqqayn's almond trees have turned white.

The locks of the almond tree have turned white

So rise with us; let us drink beside the spring.

So rise, let us drink by the spring

عَهدي بِأَنَّ الشَيبَ مَنظَرُهُ

عَهدي بِأَنَّ الشَيبَ مَنظَرُهُ

شَينٌ وَذا في غايَةِ الزَّينِ

شَينٌ وَذا في غايَةِ الزَّينِ

My understanding is that the sight of gray hair

I know that white hair, though seemly

Is ugly, yet this is the height of beauty.

Is yet the mark of old age

هَذا الشَّبابُ هُوَ المَشيبُ أَلا

هَذا الشَّبابُ هُوَ المَشيبُ أَلا

فَاِعجَب لِجَمعٍ بَينَ ضِدَّينِ

فَاِعجَب لِجَمعٍ بَينَ ضِدَّينِ

This youth is itself gray hair—behold!

This youth is but white hair

So marvel at the union of two opposites.

A wonder, this union of opposites

فَسَتُخلِفُ الأَيّامُ ما وَعَدَت

فَسَتُخلِفُ الأَيّامُ ما وَعَدَت

وَتَشوبُ صِدقَ القَولِ بِالمَينِ

وَتَشوبُ صِدقَ القَولِ بِالمَينِ

For the days will fail to keep their promises,

The days will replace what they promised

And taint the truth of speech with falsehood.

And mar the truth of speech with guile

أَوَ ما عَلِمتَ بِأَنَّ شيمَتَها

أَوَ ما عَلِمتَ بِأَنَّ شيمَتَها

تَفريقُ ما بَينَ الفَريقَينِ

تَفريقُ ما بَينَ الفَريقَينِ

And did you not know that their nature

Or have you not learned that their way

Is to separate the two parties?

Is to divide those once close?