تذكرَ من عاداته ما تذكرا

تذكرَ من عاداته ما تذكرا

وأعولَ أيامَ الشباب فأكثرا

وأعولَ أيامَ الشباب فأكثرا

He recalled what he recalled of his old ways.

He recalls the habits of his youth in part

And he wailed for the days of youth, at great length.

And mourns his bygone days of prime with sighs aplenty

وما برحت عاداته مستقرةً

وما برحت عاداته مستقرةً

ولكن أجل الشيب عنها ووقرا

ولكن أجل الشيب عنها ووقرا

And his habits remained firmly rooted,

His ways remain unchanged and firmly set

But he deemed gray hair too dignified for them, and revered it.

Though grey hairs prompt decorum and restrain his jaunty guise

يهم ويستحي تقارب خطوهِ

يهم ويستحي تقارب خطوهِ

فيترك هم النفسِ في الصدرُ مضمرا

فيترك هم النفسِ في الصدرُ مضمرا

He feels an urge, yet is ashamed of his short steps,

He yearns but feels too shy to tread the palace bowers

So he leaves his soul's desire concealed within his breast.

Leaving his heart's desire concealed within his breast

ولم يبقَ فيه إذ تأملَ شخصه

ولم يبقَ فيه إذ تأملَ شخصه

شفيعٌ الى الحسناءِ الا تنكرا

شفيعٌ الى الحسناءِ الا تنكرا

And when he surveyed his form, there remained in him

No intercessor has he left to sway the belle

No intercessor with the beautiful woman that had not changed beyond recognition.

Save his own self - but changed beyond all knowing!

ألا لا أرى في العيش للمرء مِتعةً

ألا لا أرى في العيش للمرء مِتعةً

إذا ما شباب المرءِ ولى وأدبرا

إذا ما شباب المرءِ ولى وأدبرا

Ah, I see no pleasure in life for a man

In life no joys remain for man

Once a man's youth has turned away and departed.

When youth has fled and age comes tottering nigh.