1. لَوَتِ السِتّونَ عودي

    وَحَنا الدَهرُ شَطاطي

    Sixty years have bent my stem,

    and time has bowed my tall stature.

  2. فَمَتى أُلفى بِحَظٍّ

    ذا سُرورٍ وَاِغتِباطِ

    So when shall I be found fortunate,

    possessed of joy and delight?

  3. وَعُلُوُّ السِنِّ قَد كَس

    سَرَ بِالشَيبِ نَشاطي

    And age's ascent has already bro—

    —ken my vigor with gray hair.

  4. كَيفَ سَمَّوهُ عُلُوّاً

    وَهوَ أَخذٌ في اِنحِطاطِ

    How did they call it an ascent,

    when it is a move into decline?