يا دَهْرُ قَدْ عَدَّيْتُ عَنْكَ طِلابِي

وَمَلَلْتُ مِنْ أَرْيٍ لَدَيْكَ وَصاب

O Time, I have turned away from seeking you,

And grown weary of the hopes I had in you.

وَرَأَيْتُ صَرْفَكَ بِالْكِرامِ مُوَكَّلاً

فَعَرَفْتُ وَجْهَ غَرامِهِ بِعِقابِي

I saw your turning brings esteem effortlessly,

So I knew the face of your passion through my punishment.

ما فَوْقَ جَوْرِكَ مِنْ مَزِيدٍ بَعْدَما

عِنْدِي فَذَرْنِي يا زَمانُ لِما بِي

Beyond your injustice, no increase remains for me.

Leave me, O Age, to my state!

أَتَظُنُّ أَنَّكَ ضائِرِي بِأَشَدَّ مِنْ

عُدْمِ الشَّبابِ وَفُرْقَةِ الأَحْبابِ

Do you think you could harm me more

Than the loss of youth and parting from loved ones?

لا وَالَّذِي جَعَلَ الْغِنى بِأَبِي الْمُنى

سَهْلاً مَطالِبُهُ عَلَى الطُّلابِ

No! By Him who made wealth easy for the seeker of bliss,

His quest smooth for pursuers.

بِإَغَرَّ تُسْكِرُ صَحْبَهُ أَخْلاقُهُ

وَالْخَمْرُ جائِرَةٌ عَلَى الأَلْبابِ

With most charming character he intoxicates his companions,

Though wine is sinful to minds.

خَضِلٍ أَنامِلُهُ مَتى أَسْتَسْقِهِ

فَالْغَيْثُ غَيْثِي وَالسَّحابُ سَحابِي

My palms bear his drink whenever I ask for rain,

So the rain is my rain, the clouds my clouds.

أَنا أَوْحَدُ الشُّعَراءِ فاحْبُ قَرائِحِي

بِكَ رُتْبَةً يا أَوْحَدَ الْكُتّابِ

I stand alone among poets, so love my talent

And advance it, O unparalleled scribe, to your rank,

إِنِّ خَلَعْتُ عَلَيْك بُرْدَ مَدائِحي

وَلَوِ اسْتَطَعْتُ خَلَعْتُ بُرْدَ شَبابِي

If I cast off for you the mantle of my praises,

I wish I could cast off for you the mantle of my youth.