1. The carpets were folded and the wine cups dried up,
And after you joys have become rare.

2. A club in Damascus and Samarra have disbanded,
In Egypt you were their witty entertainer.

3. The tallest entertainment dome collapsed,
Fate can demolish firmly established things.

4. By God I know not, you alone left behind,
Should one lament over it or over you cry?

5. Isaac died so no more dawns or sunsets,
Maabad perished so no more is spring's bounty.

6. Fate dethroned the king of singing,
A destiny that removes those firmly enthroned.

7. In the soil above Bani Suwayf lies an orphaned gem,
Among jewels there are now cheap imitations.

8. The crown of art continued to diminish,
Until taken over by spreading ignorance.

9. If honouring her resting place was possible,
Gardens would extend to it and pilgrims flock.

10. May God have mercy on Abdelhay, your mother was a venerable old lady,
Who sat as old age clipped her wings.

11. Her staff was broken so she was left without,
And her gallant young supporter passed away.

12. God alone knows if in her heart,
There remained wounds that Egypt still bears.

13. And people cried and mourned over your loss,
When prominent ones fall the masses weep.

14. If they were unkind or hostile the remorseful ones,
Were equally your voice between them and comfort.

15. In what you recited and narrated,
Ears and souls competed.

16. You left a world that pained you with loss,
And gained nearness to God which is true profit.

17. O you who broke your promise your pledge to me is worthless,
I have none with my conscience to settle.

18. Death toyed with it and with you and a cause,
Through which we found comfort, came to an end.

19. When friends and wishes lead us,
To the door of joy, the key disappeared.

20. They claimed you dead jokingly in gatherings,
Alas, no jokes with death drawing near.

21. When faced with death all jesters and serious ones,
Become anxious and morose.

22. Death struck you down like a nightingale,
It saw you trapped in life's snare.

23. Its laments were burning passion and its warbling,
The cooing of doves if only they articulated.

24. And they slaughtered a throat over its strings,
Wounds grieve and happiness is slaughtered.

25. And they extracted from that tongue a blade,
Which the vile fear and the insolent.

26. And time eroded your comfort and long has,
Wealth spent the night while lusts were permitted.

27. A soul that attained the limits of lightness,
And chose a dwelling beyond all spirits.

28. Rise and sing to the lads and maidens of heaven,
And send your voice that we are all souls.