1. عَهدي بِدار المنجكي مُحَمدٍ

    مَثوى جُنود أَو مَناخ وُفود

    I remember the house of Muhammad al-Manjaki:

    a lodging for troops, or a resting place for delegations.

  2. تَتَمتع الآمال مِنهُ بِراحَةٍ

    وَطَفاء صيغ بَنانِها مِن جود

    Hopes delighted in his palm,

    rain-laden, its fingers fashioned from generosity.

  3. وَالعَيش غَض في ذراه كَأَنَّهُ

    خَضر العَوارض في بَياض خُدود

    And life was fresh in his shelter, as though it were

    green whiskers against the whiteness of cheeks.

  4. وَيَهزنا شَرخ الصِبا فَتَخالنا

    بيض المَواضي في أَكُف الصَيد

    And the prime of youth stirred us, so you might take us for

    white, keen-edged swords in the hands of proud lords.

  5. حَتّى هَوى بَدر الكَمال وَكَوَرَت

    شَمس السَماحة في بُروج لحود

    Until perfection's full moon fell, and folded away was

    the sun of generosity in the constellations of tombs.

  6. وَاندك طود المَعلوات وَغَيض ما

    ء المُكرَمات وَغابَ نجم سُعودي

    And the mountain of lofty deeds crumbled, and drained away was the water

    of noble acts, and the star of my good fortune vanished.

  7. في كُلِ شَيءٍ لابن آدم حيلة

    غَير المَنايا وَالعُيون السُود

    In everything, Adam's son has a stratagem,

    except death and black eyes.

  8. عَجَباً لِقَلبي كَيفَ يَحمل بَعدَهُ

    رزاء تَضيق بِهِ صُدور البيد

    I marvel at my heart—how can it bear, after him,

    a calamity too great for the bosoms of the deserts?

  9. فَسَقى مَلث الغاديات وَأَدمُعي

    مَجداً يلاذ بِظِلِهِ المَمدود

    So may the steady rain of morning clouds and my tears water

    a glory in whose outspread shade refuge is sought.