1. Who can excuse me while tears flow hot,
The wound of parting is indeed profound.
١. مَنْ عَذِيِرِي وَالدَّمْعُ جَارٍ سَخِينُ
إِنَّ جُرْحَ النَّوَى لَجُرْحٌ ثَخِينُ
2. The best of friends passed away with my patience,
And farewell seems permanent to me.
٢. فَقَدْ خَيْرِ الصِّحَابِ أَوْدَى بِصَبْرِي
وَأَرَانِي التَّبْرِيحَ كيْفَ يَكُونُ
3. O beloved, to whom my heart belongs,
While my heart loves, it's full of grief.
٣. يَا حَبِيباً عَلَيْهِ فُؤَادِي
وَفُؤَادِي بِمَنْ يُحِبُّ ضَنِينُ
4. How could you leave without it shattering,
In sorrow over such sad misfortune?
٤. كيْفَ فَارَقْتَهُ وَلَمْ يَتَفَطَّرْ
جَزَعاً ذَلِكَ المُصَابُ الحَزِينُ
5. No - by Him who took your life you shall live,
And for you is love in it and stability.
٥. لا وَحَقِّ الَّذِي أَمَاتَكَ تَحْيَا
وَلَكَ الحُبُّ فِيهِ وَالتَّمْكِينُ
6. Your early companions see your living soul
In ornaments where nothing is clear.
٦. وَيَرَى صَحْبُكَ الأُولَى بِنْتَ عَنْهُمْ
رُوحَكَ الحَيَّ فِي حِلىً لا تَبينُ
7. In the East after your absence is weeping,
Eyes there reddened with blood at dawn.
٧. إِنَّ بِالشَّرْقِ بَعْدَ سَرْكِيسَ شَجْواً
شَرقَتْ بِالدِّمَاءِ مِنْهُ الجُفُونُ
8. Let the guardian of Egypt in the West
Be righteous and the trusted guardian.
٨. فَلَّ مِنْ غَرْبِ مِصْرَ أَنْ يَتَوَلَّى
خِلُّهَا البَرُّ وَالوَلِيُّ الأَمِينُ
9. The passions of Syria are tearful, and tears
Flow freely in Lebanon because of you.
٩. دَمِيَتْ مُهْجَةُ الشَّآمِ وَسَالَتْ
بِالصَّفَا فِي لُبْنَانَ مِنْهُ العُيُونُ
10. For your devotees at the end of affairs
Is repeated wailing and moaning.
١٠. لِمُرِيدِي سَرْكِيسَ فِي آخِرَ المَعْ
مُورِ نَوْحٌ مُرَدَّدُ وَأَنِينُ
11. Every tribe of Arabs has through you
A residence or elegy of bereavement.
١١. كُلُّ قُطْرٍ لِلْعُرْبِ فِيهِ مَقَامٌ
أَوْ مَقَالٌ لَهُ بِهِ تَأْبِينُ
12. With its most valuable jewel and adornment
The clear tongue lavishes praise.
١٢. وَبِأَغْلَى فَريدِهِ وَحِلاهُ
جَادَ فِي مَدْحِهِ اللِّسَانُ المُبِينُ
13. This right upon eulogists of virtue
And those in loyalty to you indebted.
١٣. ذَاكَ حَقٌّ لَهُ عَلَى نَاطِقِي الضَّا
دِ وَمَنْ بِالوَفَاءِ مِنْهُمْ يَدِينُ
14. A wonder that the bright star darkened,
And after such liveliness is this stillness.
١٤. عَجَبٌ أَنْ خَبَا الشِّهَابُ وَأَنْ أَعْ
قَبَ ذَاكَ الحَرَاكِ هَذَا السُّكُونُ
15. You were the fullness of life, but now
Emptiness remains, sensed by the afflicted.
١٥. كَانَ مِلْءَ الحَيَاةِ فَهْيَ وَقَدْ وَلَّ
ى فَرَاغٌ تُحَسُّ فِيهِ المَنُونُ
16. Your loss cast terror into undaunted souls,
If only that resolve of yours had remained.
١٦. أَوْقَعَ الذُّعْرَ حَيْنُهُ فِي نُفُوسٍ
خِلْنَ مَنْ ذَاكَ عَزْمُهُ لا يَحِينُ
17. You were protected by holding firm
To an opinion you'd sacrifice for, and firmness protects.
١٧. يَا فَخَارَ البَيَانِ مَاذَا دَهَاهُ
فَهُوَ اليَوْمَ خَاشِعٌ مُسْتَكِينُ
18. Sound faith, even if fire of torture,
Would not shake such conviction.
١٨. يَتَلَقَّى الخُطُوبَ غَيْرَ أَبِيٍّ
وَعَلَى نَفْسِهِ يَكَادُ يَهُونُ
19. That's a lesson you learned, remaining
An admonition to people as eras pass.
١٩. كيْفَ يَنْسَى سِنِينَ أَعْزَزْتَ فِيهَا
شَأْنَهُ فَوْقَ مَا تُعِزُّ الشُّؤونُ
20. How many a gallant man you were, of noble traits -
Courage, brilliance and faith lost.
٢٠. إِذْ أَثَرْتَ الحَرْبَ العَوَانَ عَلَى البَغْ
يِ وَكُلُّ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ مُعِينُ
21. You were an embodiment of every virtue,
Then those traits parted from our eyes.
٢١. فَتَرَامَى بَحْراً وَبَرّاً بِكَ النَّفْ
يُ وَورَاتْكَ بِالحِجَابِ السُّجُونُ
22. The bereft have lost an honest, candid man
Whose nature knows no dissembling.
٢٢. وَبَلَوْتَ الشَّقَاءَ مِنْ كُلِّ لَوْنٍ
مَا بِهِ رَحْمَةٌ وَمَا بِكَ لِينُ
23. And a loyal friend in affection, none to rival
His fidelity, and true to every oath.
٢٣. شَدَّ فِي السِّيرَةِ الَّتِي سِرْتَ مَا عَا
نَيْتَ مِمَّا تَرْتَاعُ مِنْهُ الظُّنُونُ
24. A companion whose talk delights, with subtleties
Unending, and tales to enchant.
٢٤. مِحَنٌ تَنْسِفُ العَزَائِمَ فِي الأبْ
طَالِ نَسْفاً لَوْ أَنَّهُنَّ حُصُونُ
25. He presents the rarest anecdotes with liveliest wit,
And races ahead with the lightest of them.
٢٥. إِنَّمَا صَانَكَ الثَّبَاتُ عَلَى رَأْ
يٍ تُفَدِّيهِ وَالثَّبَاتُ يَصُونُ
26. His words' exterior one may see as bland, but the
Profound view reveals wisdom remote.
٢٦. وَصَحِيحُ اليَقِينِ لَوْ صَلَى النَّا
ر عَذَاباً مَا اعْتَلَّ مِنْهُ اليَقِينُ
27. To onlookers he's a beacon,
And for those who seek, he's a spring.
٢٧. ذَاكَ دَرْسٌ أَلْفَيْتَهُ وَسيَبْقَى
عِظَةَ النَّاسِ مَا تَمُرُّ القُرُونُ
28. You see me not enumerating qualities
Each of which honors and refines the gentleman.
٢٨. كَمْ فَتىً فِيكَ يَا حَمِيدَ السَّجَايَا
فَقَدْ البَأْسُ وَالنَّدَى وَالدِّينُ
29. In journalism, if obstacles arose,
He'd tame them, making the rugged smooth.
٢٩. كُنْتَ شَمْلاً مِنَ الصِّفَاتِ جَمِيعاً
فَتَوَلَّتْ تِلْكَ الصَّفَاتُ العُيُونُ
30. Daily he'd weave lawful magic
Wherein minds are entranced.
٣٠. فَقَدْ الفَاقِدُونَ حُرّاً صَرِيحاً
مَا لَهُ فِي طِبَاعِهِ تَلْوِينُ
31. When it fell, a shining star,
A firm pillar collapsed.
٣١. وَخَدِيناً عَلَى اخْتِلافِ اللَّيَالِي
لا يُجَارِيهِ فِي الوَلاءِ خَدِينُ
32. It drew together their unity; unto wisdom
The downcast shall return.
٣٢. وَصَدِيقاً فِي وُدِّهِ لا يُدَاجِي
وَصَدُوقاً بِعَهْدِهِ لا يَمِينُ
33. Today let us maintain the press;
By his grave its being is defined.
٣٣. وَنَدِيماً حَدِيثُهُ طُرَفٌ لا
تَتَنَاهَى أَلْطَافُهَا وَشُجُونُ
34. Sarkis was lofty, not complaining, but complaining
As much as he was able to gain support.
٣٤. يُورِدُ النَّادِرَاتِ أَظْرَفَ إِي
رَادٍ وَيَعْدُو أَخَفَهُنَّ المُجُونُ
35. Sarkis would grant excuse, unless
One came insolently committing what debases.
٣٥. وَأَدِيباً إذَا تَقَضَّتْ فُنُونٌ
مِنْ إِجَادَاتِهِ تَلْتَهَا فُنُونُ
36. If manliness called him, he'd answer,
And the desire for success was his ally.
٣٦. يُؤْثِرُ السَّهْلَ فِي الكَلامِ وَلِلْ
جَزْلِ مَتَى تَدْعُهُ البَلاغَةُ حِينُ
37. He was generous, though gaining little, but
In it was grace the poor could obtain.
٣٧. تَطْفِرُ البَادِرَاتُ مِنْ نَبْعِهِ العَذْ
بِ وَفِي المُسْتَقَرِّ فِكْرٌ رَصِينُ
38. He cared not for clouds' stinginess toward him,
While toward others clouds would be generous.
٣٨. ظَاهِرُ القَوْلِ قَدْ يُرَى نَزِقاً وَالرَّ
أْيُ فِي غَوْرِهِ البَعِيدِ رَزِينُ
39. He was, for his family - the best family -
Good Lord of the protected sanctuary.
٣٩. هُوَ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ نُورٌ مُبِينٌ
وَهُوَ لِلوَارِدِينَ مَاءٌ مَعِينُ
40. From his guidance they have a shining star,
And from his help a precious treasure.
٤٠. مَا تَرَانِي مُعِدِّداً مِنْ صِفَاتٍ
كُلُّهَا يُكْرِمُ الفَتَى وَيَزِينُ
41. A father's love returned in that guide
To all - though to some it seems madness.
٤١. كَانَ سَركِيسُ فِي الصَّحَافَةِ إِنْ قَا
مَتْ صِعَابٌ يَرُوضُهَا فَتَهُونُ
42. If they withdrew into the house's corners,
Longing for him intensified, and pining.
٤٢. كُلَّ يَوْمٍ يَأْتِي بِسِحْرٍ حَلالٍ
قَدْ حَلا فِيهِ لِلْعُقُولِ الفُتُونُ
43. What gentle discourse, sweet meanings,
Charmed their hearing and their eyes!
٤٣. فَهَوَى إِذْ هَوَى شِهَابٌ مُنِيرٌ
مِنْ بَنِيهَا وَانْهَدَّ رُكْنٌ رَكِينُ
44. How can they console themselves, when in each horizon
Is an echo and murmur of him?
٤٤. ضَمَّ مِنْ شَمْلِهِمْ أَسَاهُمْ عَلَيْهِ
وَإِلَى الرُّشْدِ يَرْجِعُ المَحْزُونُ
45. Oh, Sarkis - though we weep, the remaining
Sorrow and fleeting joy are feeble.
٤٥. فَلْنحَيِّ النِّقَابَةَ اليَوْمَ قَامَتْ
وَلَهَا عِنْدَ قَبْرِهِ تَكْوِينُ
46. Not for those who depart, but for us
When they go affairs are thrown into chaos.
٤٦. كَانَ سَركِيسُ عَالِيَ النَّفْسِ لا يَشْ
كُو وَيُشْكِي مَا اسْطَاعَ مَنْ يَسْتَعِينُ
47. Egypt stood - with your soul you'd redeem her - but who
Would redeem her with his soul, save the deluded?
٤٧. كَانَ سَركِيسُ يَمْنَحُ العُذْرَ إِلاَّ
مَنْ أَتَى بَاغِياً أُمُوراً تَشِينُ
48. No foot lingered, yet in the soul of each
Of her sons for you is enduring dwelling.
٤٨. كَانَ إِنْ تَدْعُهُ المُرُوءةُ لَبَّ
اهَا وَمَسْعَاهُ بِالنَّجَاحِ ضَمِينُ
49. You were the spirit that would free her, what
Free spirit but yours would that fortified city doom?
٤٩. كَانَ سَمْحاً يَجْنِي القَلِيلَ وَلَكِنْ
فِيهِ فَضْلٌ يُصِيبُهُ المِسْكِينُ
٥٠. لا يُبَالِي شُحَّ السَّحَابِ عَلَيْهِ
وَعَلَى غَيرِهِ السَّحَابُ هَتُونُ
٥١. كَانَ فِي أَهْلِهِ وَهُمْ خَيْرُ أَهْلٍ
نِعْمَ رَبُّ الحِمَى القَرِينُ
٥٢. لَهُمُ مِنْ هُدَاهُ نَجْمٌ مُضِيءٌ
وَلَهُمْ مِنْ نَدَاهُ كَنْزُ ثَمِينُ
٥٣. عَادَ حُبُّ البَنِينَ فِي ذَلِكَ المُرْ
شِدِ لِلْعَالَمِينَ وَهْوَ جُنُونُ
٥٤. إِنْ تَوَارَوْا فِي دَارِةِ الدَّارِ عَنْهُ
جَدَّ شَوْقٌ بِهِ وَلَجَّ حَنِينُ
٥٥. أَيُّ عَذْبِ الخِطَابِ حُلْوِ المَعَانِي
رُزْئَتْهُ أَسْمَاعُهُمْ وَالعُيُونُ
٥٦. كيْفَ يَسْلُونَهُ وَفِي كُلِّ أُفْقٍ
لِحَدِيثٍ عَنْهُ صَدى وَرَنِينُ
٥٧. إِيهِ سَرْكِيسُ إِنْ بَكَيْنَا فَإِنْ البَ
اقِيَ الحُزْنُ وَالسُّرُورُ الظَّعِينُ
٥٨. لا عَلَى الذَّاهِبِينَ لَكِنْ عَلَيْنَا
حِينَ يَمْضُونَ تَسْتَدِرُّ الشُّؤُونُ
٥٩. مِصْرُ قَامَتْ كُنْتَ بِالرُّوحِ تَفْتَدِيهَا وَمَا
مَنْ يَفْتَدِيهَا بِرُوحِهِ مَغْبُونُ
٦٠. لَمْ يَضِعْ رَاحِلٌ وَفِي نَفْسِ كُلٍّ
مِنْ بَنِيهَا لَهُ قَرَارٌ مَكِينُ