وقصير تراه فوق يَفاعٍ

وقصير تراه فوق يَفاعٍ

فتراهُ كأنهُ في غَيَابَهْ

فتراهُ كأنهُ في غَيَابَهْ

And a short man you see atop a hill,

And short you see it above the mound

yet you see him as though in a deep hollow.

So you see it as if in its absence

لم تدعْ قَفْدَهُ يدُ الدهر حتى

لم تدعْ قَفْدَهُ يدُ الدهر حتى

قَمَعَتْ فيه طُولَهُ وشبابَهْ

قَمَعَتْ فيه طُولَهُ وشبابَهْ

Time's hand did not cease cuffing his nape until

Fate's hand did not leave its vessel until

it had crushed his height and youth.

It suppressed its height and youth

وجَلتْ رأسَهُ نِعمّا فأضحى

وجَلتْ رأسَهُ نِعمّا فأضحى

بارزَ الصرحِ ما يُوارى صُؤابَهْ

بارزَ الصرحِ ما يُوارى صُؤابَهْ

And it polished his head splendidly, leaving him

And it smoothed its head nicely so it became

with his edifice bare, his nits unconcealed.

Visible from the palace what covers its cup

يا أبا حفصٍ الذي فَطِنَ الدهْـ

يا أبا حفصٍ الذي فَطِنَ الدهْـ

ـرُ لميدان رأسهِ فاستطابَهْ

ـرُ لميدان رأسهِ فاستطابَهْ

O Abu Hafs, Time took notice

O Abu Hafs whom fate was aware of the arena of his head so it chose it

of your head's playing field and found it pleasing.

The time was graceful in making you a slap

ظَرُف الدهرُ في اتخاذك صَفْعا

ظَرُف الدهرُ في اتخاذك صَفْعا

ناً وما خلْتُهُ ظريفَ الدُّعابَهْ

ناً وما خلْتُهُ ظريفَ الدُّعابَهْ

Time showed wit in making you a target for slaps,

And I did not leave it graceful in joking

though I had not thought it witty in its jesting.