رحل الشبابُ وما سمعتُ بعبرَةٍ

رحل الشبابُ وما سمعتُ بعبرَةٍ

تجري لمثل فراق ذاك الراحِلِ

تجري لمثل فراق ذاك الراحِلِ

Youth has departed, and I have never heard of a tear

Youth has departed, yet no tears have I shed

flowing for a parting like that of the one who has gone.

For a farewell like the departure of that traveler.

قد كنتُ أُزهى بالشبابِ ولم أخَل

قد كنتُ أُزهى بالشبابِ ولم أخَل

أن الشيبةَ كالخضابِ الناصلِ

أن الشيبةَ كالخضابِ الناصلِ

I once took pride in youth and never imagined

I used to boast of youth and never thought

that gray hair was like fading dye.

That old age would overtake me like dye that fades.

ظِلٌّ ضَفا لي ثُمَّ زال بسرعةٍ

ظِلٌّ ضَفا لي ثُمَّ زال بسرعةٍ

يا ويحَ مُغترٍّ بظلٍّ زائِلِ

يا ويحَ مُغترٍّ بظلٍّ زائِلِ

A shade that spread over me, then swiftly vanished—

A shadow lingered, then swiftly departed.

alas for one beguiled by a fleeting shade!

Woe to one deluded by a vanishing shadow!

إن شئتَ ظلا لا يزول بحالة

إن شئتَ ظلا لا يزول بحالة

فاعمد إليه ذي الإمامِ العادلِ

فاعمد إليه ذي الإمامِ العادلِ

If you desire shade that never vanishes under any circumstance,

If you desire a shadow that does not disappear,

then turn toward him—the just imam [wording unclear].

Head for the one cast by the just imam.