تَفِرُّ عَنِ الشَّيْبِ الْغَوَانِي تَعَزُّزاً

كَمَا يَعْتَرِيهَا إِنْ رَأَتْ سَامَ أَبْرَصَا

The young women shun old age as though it were leprosy,

As if they saw in it a mangy camel.

بَدَا وَضَحاً فِي جِدَّةِ الْعُمْرِ شَانِيا

فَمَنْ سَامَ شَيْخاً فَهْوَ قَدْ سَامَ أَبْرصَا

My decline became clear in the prime of life,

So he who matches wits with an old man matches wits with a leper.