ألبستُ شَعريَ إذْ مضى

ألبستُ شَعريَ إذْ مضى

عني الصّبا لونَ الكفنْ

عني الصّبا لونَ الكفنْ

I clothed my hair, when there departed

I dressed my hair in mourning when

from me my youth, in the color of a shroud;

My youth passed, taking on the hue of shrouds.

والناسُ منْ عاداتِهم

والناسُ منْ عاداتِهم

لُبْسُ السوادِ على الحزنْ

لُبْسُ السوادِ على الحزنْ

and among people's customs is

And people by their customs don

the wearing of black in mourning.

The black of grief for sorrows and of clouds.