1. أموت الحليلات عرس جديد

    وموت البنات فجد سعيد

    Is the death of wives a new wedding,

    and the death of daughters, then, a happy fortune?

  2. يخص بفقد النسا إِلا الكريم الجوا

    د بالنفس والمال طبعاً يجود

    The loss of women singles out only the noble, generous man,

    who by nature gives freely of his life and wealth.

  3. فليس يعزى امرؤ في النسا

    ء هن صعيد حواها صعيد

    For no man is to be consoled over women:

    they are earth, enclosed by earth.

  4. فيا ليت أن العزا مثل ذا

    وتبقى الكرام العظام الكنود

    Oh, would that consolation were like this,

    and the noble, mighty al-Kunūd lived on.

  5. ولا شك أن الردى مورد

    وكل البرايا جميعاً ورود

    There is no doubt that death is a watering-place,

    and all creatures, every one, come to drink.

  6. وما هذه الدار دار خلود

    فنبقى عليها ونحن الخلود

    This abode is not an abode of everlasting life,

    that we should remain upon it as immortals.

  7. فلو كان باق بقي المصطفى

    وجد المثامنة الغر هود

    For if anyone could endure, the Chosen One would have endured,

    and Hūd, forefather of the illustrious al-Mathāminah.

  8. وإِن عشت يا أحمد فالليالي

    لنا وبنوك فعرس وعيد

    And if you live, Ahmad, the nights

    are ours, and your sons are a wedding and a feast.

  9. فلا بالمنايا لكم شامت

    وعاش بكم للنعيم الحسود

    May no one gloat over your deaths,

    and may the envious live in bliss through you.

  10. وعاد عليكم جزيل الثناء

    وما تحذروه فليس يعود

    May abundant praise return to you,

    and may what you dread never return.

  11. وإِن نحن كنا أسارى بسبع

    وهن تعاقبن بيض وسود

    And though we are captives of seven,

    as they follow one another, white and black,

  12. فما أخطأ الموت عصم الجبال

    ولا في الأجام سلمن الأُسود

    death has not missed the white-footed mountain goats,

    nor have the lions in the thickets escaped unharmed.