تَأَخُّرُ الشَيبِ عَنّي مِثلُ مَقدَمِهِ

تَأَخُّرُ الشَيبِ عَنّي مِثلُ مَقدَمِهِ

عَلى سِوايَ وَوَقتُ الشَيبِ ما حَضَرا

عَلى سِوايَ وَوَقتُ الشَيبِ ما حَضَرا

Gray hair's delay in reaching me is like its arrival

The lateness of gray hair upon me is like its early arrival

Upon another, and gray hair's time is whenever it comes.

At the time of my vigor, yet the time for gray hair has not come

وَكَم تَعَدَّت يَبيسَ الأَرضِ راعِيَةٌ

وَكَم تَعَدَّت يَبيسَ الأَرضِ راعِيَةٌ

مِنَ السَوامِ وَرامَت عَينُها الخُضَرا

مِنَ السَوامِ وَرامَت عَينُها الخُضَرا

And many a grazing beast has passed beyond the earth's dry herbage,

How many dried up lands have been crossed by a shepherdess

From among the herds, while its eye sought green pasture.

Of camels, yet her eyes yearned for green pastures

وَأَطوَلُ الحينِ يُلفى مِثلَ أَقصَرِهِ

وَأَطوَلُ الحينِ يُلفى مِثلَ أَقصَرِهِ

فَاِسأَل رَبيعَةَ عَمّا قُلتُ أَو مُضَرا

فَاِسأَل رَبيعَةَ عَمّا قُلتُ أَو مُضَرا

And the longest span of time is found to be like its shortest;

The longest time is met like the shortest

So ask Rabi‘a about what I have said, or Mudar.

So ask Rabia or Mudar about what I have said