سلوتُ عن صَبَواتٍ كنتُ ذا شَغَفٍ

سلوتُ عن صَبَواتٍ كنتُ ذا شَغَفٍ

بها ومِلْتُ للإخباتِ والنُّسُكِ

بها ومِلْتُ للإخباتِ والنُّسُكِ

I have ceased yearning for infatuations with which I once was deeply enamored,

I found release from youthful passions, once deeply enamored

and have inclined toward humble devotion and ascetic worship.

of them, and turned to humble submission and worship.

لكنْ لِقلبيَ مِن تَذكارِها قَلَقٌ

لكنْ لِقلبيَ مِن تَذكارِها قَلَقٌ

ونزوَةٌ كاختباطِ الطّيرِ في الشَّرَكِ

ونزوَةٌ كاختباطِ الطّيرِ في الشَّرَكِ

Yet remembering them still leaves my heart disquieted,

Yet their memory brings disquiet to my heart,

and with a sudden spasm, like a bird flailing in a snare.

and a sudden surge, like a bird thrashing in a snare.

هذي عقابيلُ داءٍ كانَ يمطُلُنِي

هذي عقابيلُ داءٍ كانَ يمطُلُنِي

ولم أزَلْ مُشْفِياً مِنهُ على الهُلُكِ

ولم أزَلْ مُشْفِياً مِنهُ على الهُلُكِ

These are the aftereffects of a sickness that kept me lingering on,

These are the aftereffects of an ailment that kept delaying my relief,

and because of it I remained ever on the brink of death,

and because of it I remained on the brink of death,

حتّى إذا الشَّيبُ ردَّاني تصرَّمَ ذا

حتّى إذا الشَّيبُ ردَّاني تصرَّمَ ذا

كَ الدّاءُ عن شائِبِ الفَوْدَيْنِ مُحتَنَكِ

كَ الدّاءُ عن شائِبِ الفَوْدَيْنِ مُحتَنَكِ

until, when gray hair clothed me, that—

until, when gray hair cloaked me, an end came to that

—disease at last left a seasoned man, gray at both temples.

ailment for one gray at both temples, seasoned by experience.