سُرِرتَ بِلَيلٍ كَالحِدَادِ لَبِستَهُ

سُرِرتَ بِلَيلٍ كَالحِدَادِ لَبِستَهُ

وَسَاءَكَ صُبحٌ كَالرِّدَاءِ المُصَبَّغِ

وَسَاءَكَ صُبحٌ كَالرِّدَاءِ المُصَبَّغِ

You rejoiced in a night like mourning garb you had donned,

You rejoiced at night like one in mourning, wearing it

And a dawn like a dyed cloak distressed you.

And your morning was saddened like a dyed cloak

وَمَا ذَاكَ إلاَّ للِشَّبَابِ وَحُبِّهِ

وَمَا ذَاكَ إلاَّ للِشَّبَابِ وَحُبِّهِ

وَكُرهِ مَشِيبٍ نَاصِلٍ وَمُصَمَّغِ

وَكُرهِ مَشِيبٍ نَاصِلٍ وَمُصَمَّغِ

And that was only because of youth and your love of it,

That is only because of youth and its love

And your hatred of gray hair, whether showing through faded dye or coated with gum.

And hatred of hoary old age, unkempt and stained