سَقياً لدهر مضى ما كان أطْيَبَهُ

سَقياً لدهر مضى ما كان أطْيَبَهُ

إذ أنت متّبعٌ فالشرط دينار

إذ أنت متّبعٌ فالشرط دينار

May rain bless an age gone by—how sweet it was!

The past days were so pleasant when you were near,

When you were sought after, and the stipulated fee was a dinar;

For your presence was worth more than gold coins.

أيام وجهك مبيض عَوَارضُهُ

أيام وجهك مبيض عَوَارضُهُ

وللربيع على خديك أنوار

وللربيع على خديك أنوار

In the days when the sides of your face were white,

The days when your face shone bright,

And spring had blossoms upon your cheeks.

And spring’s glow rested on your cheeks.

حانت مَنّيتُه فاسودَّ عارضُهُ

حانت مَنّيتُه فاسودَّ عارضُهُ

كما تسوّد بعد المّيت الدار

كما تسوّد بعد المّيت الدار

Its hour of death arrived, and its cheek turned black,

But when you left, your face grew dark,

As the house turns black after the dead man's passing.

As a home blackens when its dweller dies.