لاحت لوجهي أنجمٌ

لاحت لوجهي أنجمٌ

للشيب عُدنَ به طوالع

للشيب عُدنَ به طوالع

Stars appeared upon my face,

Stars shone on my face

rising there as stars of gray hair.

For gray hair, fortunes were told

أودعت منهنَّ الصبّا

أودعت منهنَّ الصبّا

من لا يرى ردَّ الودائع

من لا يرى ردَّ الودائع

Through them I entrusted my youth

I bid youth farewell

to one who does not believe in returning trusts.

He who does not return deposits

فقصصتهنَّ وإنّما

فقصصتهنَّ وإنّما

دهري بمقراضي أخادع

دهري بمقراضي أخادع

So I clipped them, though I only

I recounted them, though

deceive my fate with my scissors.

I beguiled my fate with scissors

وإذا عدوَّك كان بعضك

وإذا عدوَّك كان بعضك

في الخطوب فمن تقارع

في الخطوب فمن تقارع

And if your enemy is part of you,

When your enemy is part of you

amid adversity, whom do you fight?

Who will you battle in hardships