XXI: Unto the old man, who sigheth after youthfulness…

Unto the old man, who sigheth after youthfulness, say--
What is this? laughest thou at thy beard, old man?

Since in a year, it will have both youth and age,
Than the fate of man, that of the wild rue is better.

At times, he becometh so sated at table, that he cannot eat;
At others, he rolleth his eyes upon it, with greediness and voracity.

In their wishes, and in their words, and also in their proceedings,
The people of the world are doubtful and timid of each other.

With beard now grown white, why should I have fear of death;
When friends, in their prime, with beards black, have gone before me?

Him, under whose sway the whole of the earth's surface was,
Draw near, and behold now, in the surface of the earth!

This world's folks are like unto the moving sands, if thou but consider;
For, in truth, they roll over, and upset each other, in the very same way.

With these eyes of mine, I have beheld the dread furnace of fate--
I Khushhal, myself, whom, like unto dried up verdure, it consumeth.