1. تَبَلّجَ بالشّبيبةِ صُبْحُ شَيْبي

    فأدْبَرَ لَيْلَها وولّى

    The dawn of my gray hair shone amid youth,

    So its night receded and turned away.

  2. ولمْ أسْتُرْ بُدورَ الصُّبْحِ جَهْلاً

    وهلْ يَخْفى الصّباحُ إذا تجلّى

    And I did not veil the full moons of dawn out of ignorance;

    And can morning be hidden when it shines forth?

  3. لقدْ كبَحَ المَشيبُ جُموحَ عَزْمي

    بعَضِّ لِجامِ مَطيّتِهِ المُحَلّى

    Gray hair has indeed curbed the unruliness of my resolve,

    By biting the ornamented bridle of its mount.

  4. فَيا عهْدَ الصِّبا سِرْ في أمانِ

    ويا وِرْدَ الرّدَى أهْلاً وسَهْلا

    So, O days of youth, go in safety;

    And O draught of death, welcome!