وَشَبابٌ خَفَّ نازِلُهُ

وَشَبابٌ خَفَّ نازِلُهُ

لَيتَهُ عادَ كَما كانا

لَيتَهُ عادَ كَما كانا

And youth—its guest was swift to depart;

And youth—its guest departed swiftly;

If only it would return just as it was!

Would that it returned as it once was!

وَمَشيبُ آبِ نازِحُهُ

وَمَشيبُ آبِ نازِحُهُ

لَيتَهُ إِذ كانَ ما بانا

لَيتَهُ إِذ كانَ ما بانا

And gray age—its far-wanderer came home;

And gray hair—its far-off wanderer returned;

If only, when it came to be, it had not appeared!

Would that, when it came to be, it had not appeared!

خانَني دَهرٌ وَثِقتُ بِهِ

خانَني دَهرٌ وَثِقتُ بِهِ

رُبَّ مَوثوقٍ بِهِ خانا

رُبَّ مَوثوقٍ بِهِ خانا

Time betrayed me, though I trusted it;

Time, which I trusted, betrayed me;

Many a trusted one has betrayed.

Many a trusted one has proved faithless.