إذاwhen حلfades حالكjet-black صبغdye of الشبابyouth
إذا حل حالك صبغ الشباب
سقىmay water عهدهits days الغيثthe rain منas (introducing a description) ماحلparched
سقى عهده الغيث من ماحل
When the jet-black coloring of youth fades,
When youth’s jet-black dye fades,
may rain from a barren cloud water its bygone time.
may rain water its parched days!
فماذاwhy, then الغرورthe delusion بزورby the falseness of الخضاhair dye (continued in the next line)
فماذا الغرور بزور الخضا
بلولاcompletion of ‘hair dye’; were it not for التعللseeking solace بالباطلin falsehood
بلولا التعلل بالباطل
Why, then, be deluded by the falseness of dye,
Why, then, be deceived by false hair dye,
were it not to seek consolation in falsehood?
if not to find solace in falsehood?
