ولَيَ الشَيبُ بعد عزلِ الشّبابِ

ولَيَ الشَيبُ بعد عزلِ الشّبابِ

كُل ما كانَ حُكمُهُ للغُرابِ

كُل ما كانَ حُكمُهُ للغُرابِ

Gray hair took charge once youth had been deposed,

Grey hair assumed power after youth was deposed,

of all that once lay under the raven’s rule.

Over all that had been under the crow's rule.

فكأنّ الشَّبابَ عاهدَ شَيبي

فكأنّ الشَّبابَ عاهدَ شَيبي

فَهوَ مُستخلَفٌ لهُ في التَّصابي

فَهوَ مُستخلَفٌ لهُ في التَّصابي

It is as though youth had made a pact with my gray hair,

So it is as though youth made a pact with my grey hair,

appointing it its successor in youthful dalliance.

So it is youth's appointed deputy in playing young.