خلا بين ندمانيّ موضع مجلس

خلا بين ندمانيّ موضع مجلس

ووقرني بعد الشباب مشيب

ووقرني بعد الشباب مشيب

A seat lay vacant between my two drinking companions.

A place left empty between two who blame me,

And gray hair lent me dignity after youth.

And old age burdened me after youth,

ورُدَّت على الساقي تفيض وربَّما

ورُدَّت على الساقي تفيض وربَّما

رددتُ إليه الكأس وهي سليبُ

رددتُ إليه الكأس وهي سليبُ

And it was returned to the cupbearer, overflowing, though often

And the cup-bearer returns with an overflowing cup,

I returned the cup to him, stripped of its contents.

Yet I return the cup untouched,

وما اشتهر اللذاتِ والنشوة الفتى

وما اشتهر اللذاتِ والنشوة الفتى

فكان له في المكرمات نصيبُ

فكان له في المكرمات نصيبُ

And no young man became renowned for pleasures and intoxication

No youth takes pleasure and joy,

and thereby had a share in noble deeds.

Nor claims his share of generosity