فَقَدتُ شَبابي وَهوَ لي خَير صاحب

وَصاحَبتُ شَيبي كارِهاً وَهوَ لي ضدُّ

I lost my youth when it was my best companion

And befriended my old age unwillingly though it is my foe

وَمِن نَكدِ الدُنيا عَلى الحرّ أن يَرى

عَدوّاً لَهُ ما مِن صَداقته بُدُّ

It is the misery of this life that the free man should see

An enemy of his when he has no choice but friendship