حناني الدهر وأف

حناني الدهر وأف

تنني الليالي والغير

تنني الليالي والغير

Time has bent me, and

Time has been gentle to me and light

the nights and vicissitudes have tried me.

Were the nights that passed me by

فصرت كالقوس ومن

فصرت كالقوس ومن

عصاي للقوس وتر

عصاي للقوس وتر

So I became like a bow, and from

So I became like a bow, and my

my staff comes the bow’s string.

Walking stick served as bowstring

أهدج في مشيي وفي

أهدج في مشيي وفي

خطوي فتور وقصر

خطوي فتور وقصر

I totter as I walk, and in

There is hesitation in my walk and steps

my steps there is weakness and shortness.

That falter and fall short

كأنني مقيّد

كأنني مقيّد

وإنما القيد الكبر

وإنما القيد الكبر

As though I were fettered,

As if I were shackled

yet the fetter is only old age.

When in truth, it is old age

والعمر مثل الماء في

والعمر مثل الماء في

آخره يأتي الكدر

آخره يأتي الكدر

And life is like water: at

And life is like water - in

its end comes the murk.

The end, only bitterness comes