1. طرِبتُ إلى المِرَاةِ فروَّعتْني

    طوالعُ شَيبتينِ ألمَّتا بي

    I turned eagerly to the mirror, but was startled

    By the first signs of two gray hairs that had come upon me.

  2. فأمّا شيبةٌ ففزِعت منها

    إلى المِقراض حُبّاً للتصابي

    As for one gray hair, I fled from it

    To the scissors, for love of seeming young.

  3. وأما شَيبةٌ فصفحتُ عنها

    لتشهَدَ بالبراءَة من خضابي

    And as for the other gray hair, I spared it

    To testify that I had not dyed my hair.

  4. فأعجِبْ بالدليلِ على مَشيبي

    أقمتُ به الدليلَ على شبابي

    So marvel at the proof of my graying:

    I made it proof of my youth.