1. مع الثمانين عاث الدهر في جلدي

    وساءني ضعف رجلي واضطراب يدي

    At eighty, time has ravaged my strength,

    and my leg's weakness and my hand's trembling have grieved me.

  2. إذا كتبت فخطي جد مضطرب

    كخط مرتعش الكفين مرتعد

    When I write, my handwriting is very unsteady,

    like the writing of one whose hands tremble and who shakes.

  3. فاعجب لضعف يدي عن حملا قلما

    من بعد حطم القنا في لبة الأسد

    So marvel that my hand is too weak to carry a pen,

    after shattering spears in the lion's breast.

  4. وإن مشيت وفي كفي العصا ثقلت

    رجلي كأني أخوض الوحل في الجلد

    And if I walk, with a staff in my hand, heavy grows

    my leg, as though I were wading through mud on firm ground.

  5. فقل لمن يتمنى طول مدته

    هذي عواقب طول العمر والمدد

    So tell whoever wishes for a long life:

    these are the consequences of long life and lengthened years.