لقد جَمع الكانونُ نورا وظلمة

وجالَسنا في هيئة الرجلِ الحُكْل

The fireplace gathered light and darkness

And we sat in the form of an old man

ودَبَّت سُلافُ النارِ في قارِ فحمِه

كمادَبَّ نورُ الشمسِ في طَرف الظِّلِّ

And the flames crept in its embers

As the light of the sun crept at the edge of the shade

وكنا نُفَدِّيه وفيه شبيبةٌ

ونَخْتصُّه بالقُربِ منا وبالوصل

And we were redeeming it, in it is youth

And we reserve it close to us and in contact

إلى أنْ عَلا شيبُ الرمادِ قَذاله

وأصبح شيخا في المزاج وفي الفُكْلِ

Until the grayness of ashes covered its forehead

And it became an old man in temper and form

هَجَرْناه هجرَ الغانياتِ ضرورةً

فصار لدينا لا يُمِرُّ ولا يُحْلى

We abandoned it, as the singers abandoned necessarily

So it became for us neither passing nor sweet