1. This life of man on earth is but a slumber,
Be it long or short, the sojourn the same,

2. Most of it woe, even when seeming merry,
For joy's garment oft hides inner pain.

3. Beyond its bliss is naught but misery,
Beyond enduring is its every boon;

4. A life that must engender cares naturally,
Can a home of secrets yield lasting peace?

5. Treachery and guile ever it's nature mould,
Can treason's guidance be securely sought?

6. We sleep midst eyelids filled with ashes cold,
While ashes' eyelids never know sleep's draught.

7. A life like cotton thread so hangs in balance,
The sword of death comes down like lightning flash,

8. Is it then strange, that death in its cadence
Envelops us, but strange we bide its lash?

9. Stranger indeed that foolish mortals prance,
Believing death's blow may aside be flung!

10. Tread gently o burthened soul, for no chance
Was your creation, to be shattered undone.

11. God made you for Heaven, to Eden's feast,
The abode of woe, no place for you to roam.

12. So spurn this world, let not its thorns infest,
Nor food or clothes in you breed covetous home.

13. And taste the wine of God's love, pure and plain
Beware what bitter dregs therein may flow.

14. Leave family and friends, cry out aloud:
"Farewell O World," before the final blow.

15. Thus died my Salim, the youth so fair,
Whose passing, mourns the turtledove anew,

16. He whom we loved, he whose joy we'd share
Is gone. Alas...woe this day so rue!

17. The arrows have torn his gentle heart,
No law, nor creed, their sharpness could subdue.

18. The hand of death has clenched him in its vice,
Not Salim's wont, to be thus harshly hewn.

19. No tenderness was shown by fate so fierce,
No mercy for his youth, no pity for the brace.

20. Salim, I called...no answer from his corse,
When aid was needed, oft he showed his face.

21. Green boughs now strewn, broken in sorrow's source,
The doves depart, as darkness shrouds his place.

22. I weep, for he was like the moon so bright,
The sun does set, but not obscured dust trace.

23. He shone in the east, till night in the west,
O'ercame his light, in life's destined race.

24. No youth did he mar, or treat with disdain,
None calls his merit to dispute or efface.

25. The tide of time, eternal witness shall stay,
His many graces, as years roll apace.

26. All merit he bore, and virtue did wear,
With his Creator, his anchor, his base.

27. Thus fearing no death, he met his earthly fate,
Who fears the Lord, tranquilly ends life's chase.

28. A brave youth who met death with a smile,
Though bleached bare bones, my bitter tears chase.

29. Farewell, farewell, farewell my soul's desire,
Farewell, O light of my eye, farewell, farewell!

30. Have patience my lads, the Khouris so fair,
As befits the noble stock, in courage excel.

31. Though great be the affliction and grief now bare,
Patience in hardship, makes sorrow repel.

32. To lose you, by my father's life, no easy task,
Thus my song of lament, no power or skill quell.

33. Such is the Lord's decree, no changing that,
Be it fast or prayer, fight or arrow dispel.

34. Naught but acceptance and patience for what comes forth,
Rashness but folly, censure let no tongues spell.

35. My hope in you, beloved friend never dies,
Valiant, wise and keen your mettle they tell!

36. Why flow down the tears in such a tide?
Can weeping return bones from ash burnt hell?

37. Why wear mourning's gown, and sorrow abide,
When death is the final verse, the closing knell?

38. Dawn shines not with tears, though in torrents they slide,
Yearnings for the dead, will no life repel.

39. Though the loss is great, nobler place he'll find
To our tears he responds, with a smile so well.

40. A wide world it seemed, now constricted and confined,
No peace comes to soothe me, no slumber to quell.

41. Why this keening I hear, that your body does bind,
Does not too much grief the dissention of health knell?

42. You rise early to grieve, through night's darkness pined,
Turning from food, lamentation does impel.

43. Dear friend, it seems my counsel falls on deaf ears,
Though far be it, that blame should your way spell.

44. After wise counsel I gave all these years,
When you were the guide, the virtuous as well.

45. Does mourning or weeping the departed now heal?
Or bones turned to ash, make grief usefully tell?

46. Can our loss be undone, by the tears that we feel?
If true, we would weep oceans, our eyes wells.

47. But no life returns, however loud our appeal,
Allah's sentence is final, cannot dispel.

48. Though he was your treasure, now far beyond feel,
A noble place awaits him in Heaven, farewell.

49. Therein everlasting bliss he shall know,
To our tears he responds, with smile so swell.

50. Remember him always, of conduct so noble,
No fault in his manner, his person so well.

51. His beginning and end, always gentle and supple,
Last days with dignity, closed the curtain knell.