غَادَةٌ كَالْمَهَاةِ تَهْفُو بِخَصْرٍ

غَادَةٌ كَالْمَهَاةِ تَهْفُو بِخَصْرٍ

تَحْتَ بَنْدٍ كَمِعْصَمٍ فِي سِوارِ

تَحْتَ بَنْدٍ كَمِعْصَمٍ فِي سِوارِ

A maiden like an oryx, swaying her waist,

A maiden sways with a supple waist

beneath a girdle, like a wrist within a bracelet.

Beneath a belt like bracelets round her arms,

تِلْكَ عَمْرِي هِيَ الْحَيَاةُ فَلا تُؤْ

تِلْكَ عَمْرِي هِيَ الْحَيَاةُ فَلا تُؤْ

ثِرْ عَلَيْهَا جَلائِلَ الأَوْطَارِ

ثِرْ عَلَيْهَا جَلائِلَ الأَوْطَارِ

That, by my life, is life; so do not

This is my life, it is living, do not prefer

prefer lofty ambitions to it.

Lengthy lives over it that bring no joy.

فَاقْسِمِ الْعُمْرَ بَيْنَ جَدٍّ وَهَزْلٍ

فَاقْسِمِ الْعُمْرَ بَيْنَ جَدٍّ وَهَزْلٍ

وَوَقَارٍ طَوْرَاً وَخَلْعِ عِذَارِ

وَوَقَارٍ طَوْرَاً وَخَلْعِ عِذَارِ

So divide your life between earnestness and jest,

Divide your life between seriousness and jest,

and dignity at times, and casting off the bridle.

Dignity at times, at times the doffing of restraint.

وَاسْعَ تَبْلُغْ مَا رُمْتَهُ مِنْ نَفِيسٍ

وَاسْعَ تَبْلُغْ مَا رُمْتَهُ مِنْ نَفِيسٍ

فَالْمَسَاعِي مَدَارِجُ الأَحْرَارِ

فَالْمَسَاعِي مَدَارِجُ الأَحْرَارِ

And strive—you will attain whatever precious thing you seek,

Seek your noble goals, attain what you desire

for endeavors are the stairways of free men.

For free souls ascend by degrees to their fruition.

قَدْ يَنَالُ الْفَتَى إِذَا كَانَ شَهْمَاً

قَدْ يَنَالُ الْفَتَى إِذَا كَانَ شَهْمَاً

مُبْتَغَاهُ فِي ضَحْوَةٍ مِنْ نَهَارِ

مُبْتَغَاهُ فِي ضَحْوَةٍ مِنْ نَهَارِ

A young man may attain, if he is noble-spirited,

When bold the youth may gain in the light of day

his goal in the forenoon of a day.

That which he covets in the morning's glow.