تَقولُ وقَد لاحَت لَها في مفارقي

كَواكِبُ يَخفى غيرها وهي لائِحه

You say, as stars appeared to me upon our parting,

Hidden by others while still shining bright.

أراكَ مُحِبّاً لا مُحَبّاً فعَدّ عَن

مكابدةٍ تشقى بها لا مسامَحه

I see you loving, not loved, so refrain

From suffering through which you persevere, not forgiving.

تروحُ وتغدو جانحاً عن مَحَبَّةٍ

إليّ ونفسي عن وصالِكَ جَانِحَه

You leave and go, turning away from a love

For me, and my soul turns away from your union.

إِذا ما شَبابي نالَ شيبُكَ عِطفَهُ

فخاسرةٌ نَفسي ونفسُكَ رابحَه

If my youth gains your affection in your old age

My soul loses, yours wins, a profitable trade.

ولو عَلمتْ سني لما كان لومُها

عليّ سناناً جارحاً كلَّ جارحه

Had my years but known, no blame would be

On me, though blaming years that lacerate each laceration.

لشيَّبني في عنفوانِ شَبيبَتي

لقائي مِنَ الأَيّامِ دَهياءَ فادِحه

It made me gray in my youthful prime

Meeting, from days, a hugely injurious confrontation.

وقَطعِيَ غَولَ القَفرِ في مَتنِ سابِحٍ

وخوضيَ هَوْلَ البَحرِ في بَطنِ سابِحه

And traversing the beasts' terrain on a flowing mount

And plunging into the sea's awe on a flowing dive.

وما ضرّها كافورُ شيبي وتحتهُ

لمسك شبابي كلُّ فِعلٍ ورائِحه

Unharmed by the camphor of my grayness, underneath

Is my youthful musk, every deed and scent effusive.