عَلى الرُغمِ مِن أَنفِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلا

عَلى الرُغمِ مِن أَنفِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلا

غَدَت دارُهُ قَفراً وَمَغناهُ بَلقَعا

غَدَت دارُهُ قَفراً وَمَغناهُ بَلقَعا

With the nose of noble virtues and high honor rubbed in the dust,

Though he was the epitome of generosity and nobility

His home has become desolate, and his dwelling a barren waste.

His abode has become desolate and his singing haunt a wasteland

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ البَأسَ أَصبَحَ بَعدَهُ

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ البَأسَ أَصبَحَ بَعدَهُ

أَشَلَّ وَأَنَّ الجودَ أَصبَحَ أَجدَعا

أَشَلَّ وَأَنَّ الجودَ أَصبَحَ أَجدَعا

Have you not seen that valor, after him, has become

Have you not seen that since his passing

Paralyzed, and that generosity has had its nose cut off?

Valor has become crippled and generosity barren

فَمُرّا عَلى قَبرِ المُسَوَّدِ وَاِنظُرا

فَمُرّا عَلى قَبرِ المُسَوَّدِ وَاِنظُرا

إِلى المَجدِ وَالعَلياءِ كَيفَ تَخَشَّعا

إِلى المَجدِ وَالعَلياءِ كَيفَ تَخَشَّعا

So pass, you two, by the honored chief's grave, and look

So pass by the grave of the black-robed one and behold

At glory and high honor—how both have bowed in humility.

How glory and supremacy have become humbled

فَإِن يَكُ واراهُ التُرابُ فَكَبِّرا

فَإِن يَكُ واراهُ التُرابُ فَكَبِّرا

عَلى الجودِ وَالمَعروفِ وَالفَضلِ أَربَعا

عَلى الجودِ وَالمَعروفِ وَالفَضلِ أَربَعا

For if the earth has covered him, then proclaim 'God is greatest'

And if the soil covers him, then exalt

Over generosity, kindness, and bounty—four times.

Generosity, kindness, and merit fourfold

وَلا تَسأَما نَوحاً عَلَيهِ مُكَرَّراً

وَلا تَسأَما نَوحاً عَلَيهِ مُكَرَّراً

وَنوحاً لِفَقدِ العارِفاتِ مُرَجَّعا

وَنوحاً لِفَقدِ العارِفاتِ مُرَجَّعا

And do not tire of repeated lamentation over him,

Do not weary of grieving for him repeatedly

And of a lament, echoed in refrain, for the loss of kindly deeds.

And grieving for the loss of the virtuous, a refuge returned to

فَما كانَ قَيسٌ هَلكُهُ هَلكٌ واحِدٌ

فَما كانَ قَيسٌ هَلكُهُ هَلكٌ واحِدٌ

وَلَكِنَّهُ بُنيانُ قَومٍ تَضَعضَعا

وَلَكِنَّهُ بُنيانُ قَومٍ تَضَعضَعا

For Qays's death was not the death of one man,

For the demise of Qais was not a singular demise

But he was a people's edifice that has crumbled.

But the crumbling edifice of a people shaken

وَلا تَحسَبا أَنّي أُواريهِ وَحدَهُ

وَلا تَحسَبا أَنّي أُواريهِ وَحدَهُ

وَلَكِنَّني وارَيتُهُ وَالنَدى مَعا

وَلَكِنَّني وارَيتُهُ وَالنَدى مَعا

And do not think that I am burying him alone:

Think not that I bury him alone

But I have buried him and generosity together.

But I have buried him and tenderness together