لَعِبَ الزَمانُ بِحُسنِ وَجهِ مُحَمَّدٍ

لَعِبَ الزَمانُ بِحُسنِ وَجهِ مُحَمَّدٍ

لَعِبَ الصَبا بِالرَبعِ حَتّى أَقفَرا

لَعِبَ الصَبا بِالرَبعِ حَتّى أَقفَرا

Time toyed with the beauty of Muhammad’s face,

Time played with Muhammad's beautiful face

As the east wind plays with a dwelling until it lies desolate.

Youth played with the quarter till it became desolate

قَد كانَ مَعروفَ الجَمالِ فَلَم يَزَل

قَد كانَ مَعروفَ الجَمالِ فَلَم يَزَل

يَنتابُهُ الحَدَثانُ حَتّى أَنكَرا

يَنتابُهُ الحَدَثانُ حَتّى أَنكَرا

He was once renowned for beauty; yet ceaselessly

He was known for his beauty but did not remain so

Time’s misfortunes assailed him until he grew unrecognizable.

As youthfulness kept touching him till they denied him

عَهدي بِهِ مُتَكَفِّرٌ مُتَعَصفِرٌ

عَهدي بِهِ مُتَكَفِّرٌ مُتَعَصفِرٌ

ثُمَّ اِغتَدى مُتَصَندِلاً مُتَزَعفِرا

ثُمَّ اِغتَدى مُتَصَندِلاً مُتَزَعفِرا

I remember him camphor-white and safflower-red;

I knew him wearing eye kohl and reddish dye

Then he became sandalwood-hued and saffron-yellow.

Then he started wearing a turban and yellow robes

وَكَأَنَّما صِدغاهُ في وَجَناتِهِ

وَكَأَنَّما صِدغاهُ في وَجَناتِهِ

جُعلانِ يَنتابانِ سَلحاً أَصفَرا

جُعلانِ يَنتابانِ سَلحاً أَصفَرا

And his two sidelocks upon his cheeks seem like

As if his cheeks among his sides

Two dung beetles frequenting yellow dung.

Were two jaundiced swords in yellow sheaths