وماذا تبتغي الأيام منى

وماذا تبتغي الأيام منى

أمن بعد المشيب أرى صبيا

أمن بعد المشيب أرى صبيا

And what do the days seek from me?

What more can the days want from me?

Am I to be seen as a boy after my hair has grayed?

Will I see a youth after gray hair?

شربت من الأسى عللا ونهلا

شربت من الأسى عللا ونهلا

فزدت صدى وما ألفيت ريا

فزدت صدى وما ألفيت ريا

I drank of sorrow, draught upon draught;

I drank deeply of sorrows and woes,

So I grew thirstier, and found no slaking.

So I increased echoes but found no friend.

وكم طغت البلاد وساكنوها

وكم طغت البلاد وساكنوها

فلم أر في الورى خلا وفيا

فلم أر في الورى خلا وفيا

And how often the lands and their inhabitants have transgressed!

How nations and their people rebelled!

So I saw no faithful friend among humankind.

Yet I saw no true or faithful soul.

وجاريت الأباعد والأداني

وجاريت الأباعد والأداني

وكنت عن الوفاق لهم غنيا

وكنت عن الوفاق لهم غنيا

And I went along with those far and near,

I associated with those far and near,

Though I had no need to be in accord with them.

But was rich without their concord.