فَلَوْ قَبْلَ مَبْكَاهَا بَكَيْتُ صَبَابَةً

بِلَيْلَى شَفَيْتُ النَّفْسَ قَبْلَ التَّنَدمِ

Had I wept as a youth for Layla

I would have found solace before regret.

ولكِنْ بَكَتْ قَبْلي فَهَاجَ لِيَ البُكَا

بُكَاهَا فَقُلْتُ الفَضْلُ لِلْمُتَقَدِّمِ

But she wept before me, stirring my tears -

The reward goes to the one who acts first.