بَكَرَت تُحَسِّنُ لي سَوادَ خِضابي

بَكَرَت تُحَسِّنُ لي سَوادَ خِضابي

فَكَأَنَّ ذاكَ أَعادَني لِشَبابي

فَكَأَنَّ ذاكَ أَعادَني لِشَبابي

She came early, commending my dye’s black hue to me;

She came early, praising the blackness of my hair dye to me,

and it seemed that this had restored me to my youth.

As though that had restored me to my youth.

ما الشَيبُ عِندي وَالخِضابُ لِواصِفٍ

ما الشَيبُ عِندي وَالخِضابُ لِواصِفٍ

إِلّا كَشَمسٍ جُلِّلَت بِضَبابِ

إِلّا كَشَمسٍ جُلِّلَت بِضَبابِ

To my mind, gray hair and dye, to anyone who would describe them,

In my view, gray hair and dye, to one describing them,

are nothing but a sun enshrouded in mist:

Are merely like a sun shrouded in mist.

تَخفى قَليلاً ثُمَّ يَقشَعُها الصَبا

تَخفى قَليلاً ثُمَّ يَقشَعُها الصَبا

فَيَصيرُ ما سُتِرَت بِهِ لِذَهابِ

فَيَصيرُ ما سُتِرَت بِهِ لِذَهابِ

it is hidden briefly, then the east wind strips its veil away,

It is hidden briefly, then the east wind uncovers it,

and what had covered it is thus consigned to vanish.

And what had veiled it passes away.

لا تُنكِري وَضحَ المَشيبِ فَإِنَّما

لا تُنكِري وَضحَ المَشيبِ فَإِنَّما

هُوَ زَهرَةُ الأَفهامِ وَالأَلبابِ

هُوَ زَهرَةُ الأَفهامِ وَالأَلبابِ

Do not disdain the bright whiteness of gray hair: it is only

Do not scorn the brightness of gray hair, for

the blossom of understanding and discerning minds.

It is but the blossom of understanding and intellect.

فَلَدَيَّ ما تَهوينَ مِن شَأنِ الصِبا

فَلَدَيَّ ما تَهوينَ مِن شَأنِ الصِبا

وَطُلاوَةُ الأَخلاقِ وَالآدابِ

وَطُلاوَةُ الأَخلاقِ وَالآدابِ

For I possess all you desire of youth’s qualities,

For I have what you love of the ways of youth,

and the sweetness of character and cultivated manners.

And the charm of character and manners.