غَادَةٌ كَالْمَهَاةِ تَهْفُو بِخَصْرٍ

تَحْتَ بَنْدٍ كَمِعْصَمٍ فِي سِوارِ

A maiden sways with a supple waist

Beneath a belt like bracelets round her arms,

تِلْكَ عَمْرِي هِيَ الْحَيَاةُ فَلا تُؤْ

ثِرْ عَلَيْهَا جَلائِلَ الأَوْطَارِ

This is my life, it is living, do not prefer

Lengthy lives over it that bring no joy.

فَاقْسِمِ الْعُمْرَ بَيْنَ جَدٍّ وَهَزْلٍ

وَوَقَارٍ طَوْرَاً وَخَلْعِ عِذَارِ

Divide your life between seriousness and jest,

Dignity at times, at times the doffing of restraint.

وَاسْعَ تَبْلُغْ مَا رُمْتَهُ مِنْ نَفِيسٍ

فَالْمَسَاعِي مَدَارِجُ الأَحْرَارِ

Seek your noble goals, attain what you desire

For free souls ascend by degrees to their fruition.

قَدْ يَنَالُ الْفَتَى إِذَا كَانَ شَهْمَاً

مُبْتَغَاهُ فِي ضَحْوَةٍ مِنْ نَهَارِ

When bold the youth may gain in the light of day

That which he covets in the morning's glow.