أما لِهذا الشَيخ من عَهدِ عاد

أما لِهذا الشَيخ من عَهدِ عاد

من أجَلٍ يُقضي ولا مِن مَعاد

من أجَلٍ يُقضي ولا مِن مَعاد

Has this old man from the age of ʿĀd

Does this old man have no past or future days

no appointed term to be fulfilled, nor any return?

No time to fulfill or destiny to gaze

ليتَ لَنا في سنّه قَهوَةً

ليتَ لَنا في سنّه قَهوَةً

تُدِيلُ من ظُلمَتِهِ باتّقاد

تُدِيلُ من ظُلمَتِهِ باتّقاد

Would that we had wine as old as he is,

If only we had coffee in his old age

whose blaze would overcome his darkness.

To light his darkness and our night assuage

وليتَنا نخرجُ في صَفقةٍ

وليتَنا نخرجُ في صَفقةٍ

جائزةٍ عنهُ ولو بالحَماد

جائزةٍ عنهُ ولو بالحَماد

And would that we could escape through a bargain,

If only we could sell him for any price

a valid one, rid of him—even for thanks alone.

And free ourselves, though selling isn't nice

وهل لَنا في البَيع من حِيلَةٍ

وهل لَنا في البَيع من حِيلَةٍ

إذا رمينا بِثُبوتِ السَّداد

إذا رمينا بِثُبوتِ السَّداد

And have we any stratagem in the sale,

Can we find a clever selling artifice

when our proven sound judgment is held against us?

To lose this deal though paid in full device