1. هذي منازلهم أما تتذكر

    درست معاهدهم فأمست تنكر

    These are their dwellings—do you not remember?

    Their familiar haunts have faded and become unrecognizable.

  2. عفت السيول طلولها فكأنها

    خدّى يخددها دموع تهمر

    The torrents have effaced their ruins, so they are like

    My cheek, furrowed by tears that pour down.

  3. درست رسومهم ورسم شبيبتى

    وعلاهما نَور وشيب أزهر

    Their traces have faded, as has the trace of my youth,

    And blossoms and gleaming white hair have covered them both.

  4. لون المشيب على عذارى آية

    بيضاء من سوء تروع وتنذر

    The hue of gray hair upon my cheek is a sign,

    White from affliction, it terrifies and warns.

  5. قالوا الخضاب فقلت أني ماقت

    حىّ المشيب فكيف ميتا يقبر

    They said, 'Dye it!' I replied, 'I detest

    Living gray hair—how, then, can it be buried dead?'