أَظُنُّ اللَيالي بَعدَكُم سَتَريعُ

أَظُنُّ اللَيالي بَعدَكُم سَتَريعُ

فَمَن يُبقي لي مِن رائِعٍ فَتَروعُ

فَمَن يُبقي لي مِن رائِعٍ فَتَروعُ

I think the nights, after you, will relent;

I think the nights after you will pass quickly

for who will leave me any terror with which they might frighten me?

So who will keep me from what is exciting and frightening

خُذي عُدَّةَ الصَبرِ الجَميلِ فَإِنَّهُ

خُذي عُدَّةَ الصَبرِ الجَميلِ فَإِنَّهُ

لِكُلِّ نِزاعٍ يا أُمَيمَ نُزوعُ

لِكُلِّ نِزاعٍ يا أُمَيمَ نُزوعُ

Take the provision of noble patience, for indeed

Take the equipment of beautiful patience, for it

every yearning, O Umaym, has its letting go.

O Umayma, is the solution to every dispute

وَقَد كُنتُ أَبكي لِلأَحِبَّةِ قَد أَنى

وَقَد كُنتُ أَبكي لِلأَحِبَّةِ قَد أَنى

لِقَلبي سُلوٌّ وَاِطمَأَنَّ وَلُوعُ

لِقَلبي سُلوٌّ وَاِطمَأَنَّ وَلُوعُ

I once wept for loved ones; now the time has come

And I used to cry for the loved ones, now I am done

for my heart's solace, and ardent longing has grown still.

My heart is tranquil and has calmed and softened

وَلَكِنَّما أَبكي المَكارِمَ أُخلِيَت

وَلَكِنَّما أَبكي المَكارِمَ أُخلِيَت

مَنازِلُ مِنها لِلنَدى وَرُبوعُ

مَنازِلُ مِنها لِلنَدى وَرُبوعُ

But I weep only for noble virtues, of which

But I cry for the generous acts that have been abandoned

generosity's homes and dwellings have been emptied.

The abodes of which are for the dew and meadows

وَهَل أَنا جازٍ ذَلِكَ العَهدَ بِالبُكا

وَهَل أَنا جازٍ ذَلِكَ العَهدَ بِالبُكا

وَلو أَنَّ كُحلَ الماقِيَينِ نَجيعُ

وَلو أَنَّ كُحلَ الماقِيَينِ نَجيعُ

Can I repay that bond with weeping,

Could I fulfill that pact with crying

even if the kohl of both eye-corners were blood?

Even if the kohl of the farewell-givers is copious

أَبيتُ وَطُرّاقُ الهُمومِ كَأَنَّها

أَبيتُ وَطُرّاقُ الهُمومِ كَأَنَّها

مَحافِلُ حَيٍّ تَنتَجي وَجُموعُ

مَحافِلُ حَيٍّ تَنتَجي وَجُموعُ

I pass the night, and the night-visitors of care seem

I refused and the speculations of worries are as if

like a clan's assemblies whispering together, and crowds.

They are gatherings of a living tribe that meet and assemble

أُقارِعُ أُولى اللَيلِ عَن أُخرَياتِهِ

أُقارِعُ أُولى اللَيلِ عَن أُخرَياتِهِ

كَأَنّي أَقودُ النُجمَ وَهُوَ ظَليعُ

كَأَنّي أَقودُ النُجمَ وَهُوَ ظَليعُ

I battle the night's first hours in pursuit of its last,

I fight against the early night over its latter parts

as though I led the stars, and they were lame.

As if I drive the star and it wanders

وَعَيني لِرَقراقِ الدُموعِ وَقيعَةٌ

وَعَيني لِرَقراقِ الدُموعِ وَقيعَةٌ

لَها اليَومَ مِن عاصي الشُؤونِ مُطيعُ

لَها اليَومَ مِن عاصي الشُؤونِ مُطيعُ

My eye is a pool for shimmering tears;

And my eyes are accustomed to the flowing tears

today even rebellious tear-ducts yield to it.

Obedient to it today instead of the rebel authorities

بِمَن تُدفَعُ الجُلّى بِمَن تُرفَعُ العُلى

بِمَن تُدفَعُ الجُلّى بِمَن تُرفَعُ العُلى

بِمَن تُحفَظُ الآمالُ وَهيَ تَضيعُ

بِمَن تُحفَظُ الآمالُ وَهيَ تَضيعُ

By whom is disaster repelled, by whom is glory raised?

With whom will glory be repelled, with whom will loftiness be raised

By whom are hopes guarded as they slip away?

With whom will hopes be kept while they are lost

بِمَن يُنقَعُ الظَمآنُ وَهُوَ مُحَلّأٌ

بِمَن يُنقَعُ الظَمآنُ وَهُوَ مُحَلّأٌ

بِمَن يُؤمَنُ المَطرودُ وَهُا مَروعُ

بِمَن يُؤمَنُ المَطرودُ وَهُا مَروعُ

By whom is the thirsty one slaked when driven from water?

With whom will the thirsty drink while he is suffering

By whom is the terrified outcast made safe?

With whom will the outcast feel safe while he is frightened

هُوَ الرُزءُ لا يَعدو المَكارِمَ وَالعُلى

هُوَ الرُزءُ لا يَعدو المَكارِمَ وَالعُلى

صَلومٌ لِأَشرافِ العَلاءِ جَدوعُ

صَلومٌ لِأَشرافِ العَلاءِ جَدوعُ

This bereavement strikes none but noble virtues and glory,

He is well-being, he does not transgress generosity and loftiness

severing ears and noses from glory's highest ranks.

Salama to the nobility of the eminent, bite-sized

فَأَينَ قِوامُ الدينِ لِلخَطبِ يَعتَري

فَأَينَ قِوامُ الدينِ لِلخَطبِ يَعتَري

وَلِلدَهرِ يَغدو بِالأَذى وَيَروعُ

وَلِلدَهرِ يَغدو بِالأَذى وَيَروعُ

So where is Qiwam al-Din against calamity that befalls,

So where are the pillars of religion for the calamities that afflict

and against Time, coming with harm and spreading fear?

And for time that harms in the morning and frightens in the evening

وَأَينَ قِوامُ الدينِ لِلبيضِ وَالقَنا

وَأَينَ قِوامُ الدينِ لِلبيضِ وَالقَنا

إِذا لَم يَكُن إِلّا اليَقينَ دُروعُ

إِذا لَم يَكُن إِلّا اليَقينَ دُروعُ

And where is Qiwam al-Din against bright swords and spears,

And where are the pillars of religion for the innocent and the brave

when no armor remains but conviction?

If conviction were not their only armor

وَأَينَ قِوامُ الدينِ لِلنَيلِ وَالقِرى

وَأَينَ قِوامُ الدينِ لِلنَيلِ وَالقِرى

إِذِ الجَدبُ مُعطٍ وَالسَحابُ مَنوعُ

إِذِ الجَدبُ مُعطٍ وَالسَحابُ مَنوعُ

And where is Qiwam al-Din for bounty and hospitality,

And where are the pillars of religion for the Nile and the villages

when drought gives freely and the clouds withhold?

While barrenness persists and rain is forbidden

أَلا مَن لِأَضيافِ الشَتاءِ يَلُفُّهُم

أَلا مَن لِأَضيافِ الشَتاءِ يَلُفُّهُم

سَقيطُ ظَلامٍ قِطقِطٍ وَصَقيعُ

سَقيطُ ظَلامٍ قِطقِطٍ وَصَقيعُ

Ah, who is there for winter's guests, enfolded

Is there anyone to warm the guests of winter

in night's fine falling drizzle and frost?

With a pouring gloomy cold and freezing weather

تَجاذَبُهُم أَيدي الشَمالِ رِياطَهُم

تَجاذَبُهُم أَيدي الشَمالِ رِياطَهُم

فَيَسقُطُ سِبٌّ أَو يَضَلَّ قَطيعُ

فَيَسقُطُ سِبٌّ أَو يَضَلَّ قَطيعُ

The north wind's hands wrest their cloaks from them,

The north wind's hands pull their rides

till a linen wrap falls or a scrap is blown astray,

So a loved one drops or a herd gets lost

إِذا كانَ بَينَ البَيتِ وَالزَفزَفِ الصَبا

إِذا كانَ بَينَ البَيتِ وَالزَفزَفِ الصَبا

أَحاديثُ تَخفى مَرَّةً وَتَذيعُ

أَحاديثُ تَخفى مَرَّةً وَتَذيعُ

when between the tent and the blustering east wind

When between the house and the gusts there were

tales pass, now hushed, now proclaimed.

Conversations that hide at times and spread at others

وَمَن لِلعُفاةِ المُرمِلينَ يَشُلَّهُم

وَمَن لِلعُفاةِ المُرمِلينَ يَشُلَّهُم

مِنَ الدَهرِ قِرنٌ لا يُرامُ مَنيعُ

مِنَ الدَهرِ قِرنٌ لا يُرامُ مَنيعُ

And who is there for penniless supplicants, driven on

And who is there for the barefoot worn out ones to support them

by an invincible, unassailable adversary from Time?

From the days of life where its centuries cannot be prevented

فَيا راعي الذَودِ الظِماءَ تَرَكتَها

فَيا راعي الذَودِ الظِماءَ تَرَكتَها

وَأَحفَظُ راعٍ مُذ نَأَيتَ مُضيعُ

وَأَحفَظُ راعٍ مُذ نَأَيتَ مُضيعُ

O herdsman of the little herd, you have left it thirsty;

So hello herder of thirsty sheep you have left

since you went afar, even the most watchful herdsman neglects it.

And you were the most protective shepherd since you were lost

وَلَيسَ لَها في الدارِ دينُ شَريعَةٍ

وَلَيسَ لَها في الدارِ دينُ شَريعَةٍ

وَلا في ثَنايا الطالِعينَ طُلوعُ

وَلا في ثَنايا الطالِعينَ طُلوعُ

It has no claim to a watering-place in the land,

And they have in the house no share of canonical law

nor any ascent through the mountain passes of those who climb.

Nor between the horizons is there any rising

وَلا لِلغَوادي مُذ فُقِدتَ مُزايدٌ

وَلا لِلغَوادي مُذ فُقِدتَ مُزايدٌ

وَلا لِلمَعالي مُذ عُدِمتَ قَريعُ

وَلا لِلمَعالي مُذ عُدِمتَ قَريعُ

Since you were lost, none has outbidden the morning rain-clouds;

And since you were missing there is for the valleys no rival

since you were gone, lofty deeds have had no champion.

And for the glories no deterring opponent

أَقولُ لِناعيهِ عُقِرتَ وَجَرَّبتَ

أَقولُ لِناعيهِ عُقِرتَ وَجَرَّبتَ

بِشِلوِكَ فَدُعاءُ اليَدَينِ خَموعُ

بِشِلوِكَ فَدُعاءُ اليَدَينِ خَموعُ

I tell his death-announcer: 'May you be maimed, and may you feel

I say to his grievers, you were mutilated and tried

upon your carcass a crooked-forelegged, limping hyena!'

With your prayers the hands are submissive

وَغَلغَلَ ما بَينَ الحِجابَينِ وَالحَشا

وَغَلغَلَ ما بَينَ الحِجابَينِ وَالحَشا

سِنانٌ كَمِصباحِ السَليطِ وَقيعُ

سِنانٌ كَمِصباحِ السَليطِ وَقيعُ

And deep between my two inner membranes and my entrails there sank

And struggles between the two veils and courtyard

a hammer-sharpened spearhead, like an oil lamp.

Teeth like the flame of an ignited lamp

نَعَيتُ النَدى عَضّاً يَرِفُّ نَباتُهُ

نَعَيتُ النَدى عَضّاً يَرِفُّ نَباتُهُ

وَشَملَ العُلى وَالمَجدَ وَهُوَ جَميعُ

وَشَملَ العُلى وَالمَجدَ وَهُوَ جَميعُ

I announced generosity's death, still fresh, its growth quivering,

I grieved growth that raises its plants

and the company of lofty deeds and glory, still united,

And it contained glory and splendor altogether

بِبَدرٍ مُعَمٍّ في الكَواكِبِ مُخوَلٍ

بِبَدرٍ مُعَمٍّ في الكَواكِبِ مُخوَلٍ

نَمَتهُ عُروقٌ لِلعُلى وَفُروعُ

نَمَتهُ عُروقٌ لِلعُلى وَفُروعُ

in a full moon whose paternal and maternal uncles were stars,

With an auspicious full moon among the stars supported

whom roots and branches of glory had nurtured.

The sprigs of its glory and branches grew from it

مِنَ القَومِ طالوا كُلَّ طَولٍ إِلى العُلى

مِنَ القَومِ طالوا كُلَّ طَولٍ إِلى العُلى

إِذا أَذرُعٌ يَوماً قَصَرنَ وَبوعُ

إِذا أَذرُعٌ يَوماً قَصَرنَ وَبوعُ

from a people who surpassed every reach toward glory,

Of the people, those who reached every honor and height

when arms and armspans one day fell short.

When the towering stumble one day and collapse

بَنوا في يَفاعِ المَجدِ وَهوَ مُمَنَّعٌ

بَنوا في يَفاعِ المَجدِ وَهوَ مُمَنَّعٌ

بُنىً طَيرُها بَينَ النُجومِ وُقوعُ

بُنىً طَيرُها بَينَ النُجومِ وُقوعُ

They built upon glory's summit, though it was impregnable,

They built in thickets of glory while it was forbidden

structures whose birds alight among the stars.

Structures whose birds fall between the stars

فَلا حَمَلَت أُمُّ المَكارِمِ بَعدَهُ

فَلا حَمَلَت أُمُّ المَكارِمِ بَعدَهُ

وَلا شَبَّ لِلمَجدِ التَليدِ رَضيعُ

وَلا شَبَّ لِلمَجدِ التَليدِ رَضيعُ

May the mother of noble virtues never conceive after him,

So neither did the mother of generosity carry after him

nor a suckling child of ancestral glory grow to manhood;

Nor did a baby for inherited glory grow up

وَلا أَدَّتِ الرَكبَ الخِماصَ عَلى الوَجى

وَلا أَدَّتِ الرَكبَ الخِماصَ عَلى الوَجى

سَفائِنُ بَرٍّ وَالسِياطُ قُلوعُ

سَفائِنُ بَرٍّ وَالسِياطُ قُلوعُ

nor may hunger-hollowed riders be conveyed, despite sore feet,

Nor did the brave ships in the battlefields

by ships of the land, with whips for sails,

With the oars aimless and the whips blunt

إِلى أَن يُزادَ المُستَنيلينَ بَعدَهُ

إِلى أَن يُزادَ المُستَنيلينَ بَعدَهُ

مِنَ الحَيِّ قَرٌّ في الظَلامِ وَجوعُ

مِنَ الحَيِّ قَرٌّ في الظَلامِ وَجوعُ

to where, after him, those seeking bounty are provisioned

Until the ones who hope after him are increased

by the clan with cold in the darkness and hunger.

From life, few in the darkness and hungry

أَضُمُّ عَلَيهِ الرَاحَتَينِ تَعَلُّقاً

أَضُمُّ عَلَيهِ الرَاحَتَينِ تَعَلُّقاً

وَقَد نَزَعَتهُ مِشَنُ يَدَيَّ نَزوعُ

وَقَد نَزَعَتهُ مِشَنُ يَدَيَّ نَزوعُ

I close both palms upon him, clinging,

I hold upon it with two hands clinging

though a ruthless snatcher has torn him from my hands' grip.

While a withdrawal pulled it from my hands

غُصِبتُكَ عِلقاً لَم أَبِعهُ وَلَم أَكُن

غُصِبتُكَ عِلقاً لَم أَبِعهُ وَلَم أَكُن

كَباغي رِباحٍ يَشتَري وَيَبيعُ

كَباغي رِباحٍ يَشتَري وَيَبيعُ

I was robbed of you, a treasure I had not sold; nor was I

I was forcibly made to let you go and did not sell you

like a seeker of profits, buying and selling.

Like a peddler who buys and sells the winds

طَوَيتُكَ طَيَّ البُردِ لَم يُنضَ مِن بِلىً

طَوَيتُكَ طَيَّ البُردِ لَم يُنضَ مِن بِلىً

وَقَد يُغمَدُ المَطرورُ وَهُوَ صَنيعُ

وَقَد يُغمَدُ المَطرورُ وَهُوَ صَنيعُ

I folded you away like a mantle not cast off for wear;

I wrapped you in the wrap of cold and no corruption touched you from decay

a sharpened blade may be sheathed while still newly made.

While sheathed blades remain unblemished

أُناديكَ مِن تَحتِ الخُطوبِ غَدا لَها

أُناديكَ مِن تَحتِ الخُطوبِ غَدا لَها

بِمَظهَريَ رَحلٌ ضاغِطٌ وَقُطوعُ

بِمَظهَريَ رَحلٌ ضاغِطٌ وَقُطوعُ

I call to you beneath calamities, which now have

I call onto you from under calamities which tomorrow

a crushing saddle and saddlecloths upon my back.

A crushing and cutting ordeal will befall me

ما كانَتِ الأَيّامُ يَفرَعنَ هَضبَتي

ما كانَتِ الأَيّامُ يَفرَعنَ هَضبَتي

لَوَ أَنَّكَ واعٍ لِلدُعاءِ سَميعُ

لَوَ أَنَّكَ واعٍ لِلدُعاءِ سَميعُ

The days would never have scaled my mountain

The days would not have narrowed my plateau

had you been mindful of my call and able to hear.

If you were responsive to the prayer and hearing

رَمَتني سِهامُ البَأسِ بَعدَكَ جَهرَةً

رَمَتني سِهامُ البَأسِ بَعدَكَ جَهرَةً

وَأَنبَضَ نَحوي عاجِزٌ وَجَزوعُ

وَأَنبَضَ نَحوي عاجِزٌ وَجَزوعُ

The arrows of adversity shot at me openly after you;

The arrows of affliction struck me violently after you

the helpless and the fainthearted twanged their bows toward me.

And a weak and cut off one pounced at me

وَزالَ مِجَنٌّ ما نِعٌ كُنتُ أُتَّقي

وَزالَ مِجَنٌّ ما نِعٌ كُنتُ أُتَّقي

بِهِ الخَطبَ وَالخَطبُ الجَليلُ قَطوعُ

بِهِ الخَطبَ وَالخَطبُ الجَليلُ قَطوعُ

A warding shield has vanished, with which I used to guard

And the shield I used to fear with it calamities

myself against calamity—and mighty calamity cuts through.

And serious calamities are destructive indeed

وَما كُنتُ أَدري أَنَّ فَوقَكَ آمِراً

وَما كُنتُ أَدري أَنَّ فَوقَكَ آمِراً

مِنَ الدَهرِ يَدعو بَغتَةً فَتُطيعُ

مِنَ الدَهرِ يَدعو بَغتَةً فَتُطيعُ

I never knew that above you was a commander

And I did not know that above you is a commander

from Time, who calls suddenly and you obey.

From fate who suddenly calls you to obey

فَغالَبَ أَطماعي عَليكَ مُّغالِبٌ

فَغالَبَ أَطماعي عَليكَ مُّغالِبٌ

وَقارَعَ آمالي عَليكَ قَروعُ

وَقارَعَ آمالي عَليكَ قَروعُ

A contender overcame my expectations of you,

So a usurper overpowered my greed over you

and a mighty striker battered my hopes of you.

And resisting hopes clashed with me

عُصِبتُ فَلَم أَسمَح لِغَيرِ أَكُفِّكُم

عُصِبتُ فَلَم أَسمَح لِغَيرِ أَكُفِّكُم

بَدَرّي وَبَعضُ الحالِبَينَ طَموعُ

بَدَرّي وَبَعضُ الحالِبَينَ طَموعُ

I was bound, yet would not yield to hands other than yours

I was loyal so I did not allow anyone but your palms

my milk—and some milkers are greedy—

To milk my udder while the ambitions of some are aspiring

إِباءً وَلَو طارَت بِكَفّي مُلَيحَةٌ

إِباءً وَلَو طارَت بِكَفّي مُلَيحَةٌ

إِلى النيقِ رَبداءُ الجَناحِ لَموعُ

إِلى النيقِ رَبداءُ الجَناحِ لَموعُ

out of pride, even if a little bird flew away with my hand

Refusing even if a fine one were to escape with my palm

toward the mountain peak, dusky-winged and darting.

To the exquisite the unsightly feathered wing flutters

لَقَد لَسَبَتني مِن عَقارِبِ كَيدِهِم

لَقَد لَسَبَتني مِن عَقارِبِ كَيدِهِم

دُيوبٌ إِذا جَنَّ الظَلامُ لَسوعُ

دُيوبٌ إِذا جَنَّ الظَلامُ لَسوعُ

Among the scorpions of their scheming there has indeed stung me

They have certainly stung me with the scorpions of their deceit

a little creeper, much given to stinging when darkness falls.

When darkness falls, beasts that bite and brand

يُسَوِّمُني حُسنَ الثَناءِ وَضامِنٌ

يُسَوِّمُني حُسنَ الثَناءِ وَضامِنٌ

لِسوءِ مَقالٍ أَن يَسوءَ صَنيعُ

لِسوءِ مَقالٍ أَن يَسوءَ صَنيعُ

He demands fine praise of me; yet the sure warrant

He promises me handsome praise, and one who guarantees

for ill speech is an ill deed.

Evil speech, that his behavior will be good

وَحَسبُكَ مِن ذَمِّ الفَتى تَركُ مَدحِهِ

وَحَسبُكَ مِن ذَمِّ الفَتى تَركُ مَدحِهِ

لِأَمرٍ يَضيقُ القَولُ وَهُوَ وَسيعُ

لِأَمرٍ يَضيقُ القَولُ وَهُوَ وَسيعُ

Enough to blame a man is to leave him unpraised

And it suffices you the dispraise of a man to neglect his praise

for a matter that constricts speech, ample though it is.

For a matter that speech is too narrow while it is vast

سَقاكَ عَلى نَأيِ الدِيارِ وَشَحطِها

سَقاكَ عَلى نَأيِ الدِيارِ وَشَحطِها

رَبيعٌ وَهَل يَسقي الرَبيعَ رَبيعُ

رَبيعٌ وَهَل يَسقي الرَبيعَ رَبيعُ

May you be watered, despite the dwellings' distance and remoteness,

It quenched you in the remoteness of lands and its outskirts

by spring rain—yet can spring rain water spring itself?

A spring, and does a spring water a spring

وَحَيّاكَ عَنّا كُلُّ نَجمٍ وَشارِقٍ

وَحَيّاكَ عَنّا كُلُّ نَجمٍ وَشارِقٍ

إِذا جَنَّ لَيلٌ أَو أَضاءَ صَديعُ

إِذا جَنَّ لَيلٌ أَو أَضاءَ صَديعُ

May every star and rising sun salute you on our behalf,

And every star and horizon greeted you when

when night enfolds or dawn shines.

Darkness falls or the smooth earth glows

ذَكَرتُكَ ذِكرَ العاطِشاتِ وُرودَها

ذَكَرتُكَ ذِكرَ العاطِشاتِ وُرودَها

تُحَرَّقُ أَكبادٌ لَها وَضُلوعُ

تُحَرَّقُ أَكبادٌ لَها وَضُلوعُ

I remembered you as thirsty she-camels remember coming to water,

I remembered you like the remembrance of meadows by the thirsty

their livers and ribs burning within them.

Livers for them burn and they have ribs

تَقاذَفنَ يَطلُبنَ الرَواءَ عَشيَّةً

تَقاذَفنَ يَطلُبنَ الرَواءَ عَشيَّةً

نَزائِعَ أَدنى وِردِهِنَّ نَزيعُ

نَزائِعَ أَدنى وِردِهِنَّ نَزيعُ

They raced onward, seeking their fill one evening,

They shared in seeking drink one evening

far from home, their nearest drink drawn from a well.

The most adjacent of their roses being demanded

ضَرَبنَ طَريقاً بِالمَناسِمِ أَربَعاً

ضَرَبنَ طَريقاً بِالمَناسِمِ أَربَعاً

إِلى الماءِ لا تُدنى إِلَيهِ شَروعُ

إِلى الماءِ لا تُدنى إِلَيهِ شَروعُ

For four nights they beat a path with their padded feet

They took a path with landmarks in fours

toward water that no open watering-paths can reach.

To the inaccessible water, no wading reaches it

فَهَجراً لِدارِ الحَيِّ بَعدَ رَحيلِكُم

فَهَجراً لِدارِ الحَيِّ بَعدَ رَحيلِكُم

وَما كُلُّ أَظعانٍ لَهُنَّ رُجوعُ

وَما كُلُّ أَظعانٍ لَهُنَّ رُجوعُ

So let the clan's dwelling be forsaken after your departure;

So farewell to the house of life after your departure

not all departing camel-litters return.

And not all sobbings have a return

وَلا مَرحَباً بِالأَرضِ لَستُم حُلولَها

وَلا مَرحَباً بِالأَرضِ لَستُم حُلولَها

وَإِن كانَ مَرعىً لِلقَطينِ مَريعُ

وَإِن كانَ مَرعىً لِلقَطينِ مَريعُ

No welcome to a land where you do not dwell,

And no welcome to the land for you are not its dwellers

even if it is lush pasture for those who remain.

Even if it were pasture for beasts to graze

لَقَد جَلَّ قَدرُ الرُزءِ أَن يَبلُغَ البُكا

لَقَد جَلَّ قَدرُ الرُزءِ أَن يَبلُغَ البُكا

مَداهُ وَلَو أَنَّ القُلوبَ دُموعُ

مَداهُ وَلَو أَنَّ القُلوبَ دُموعُ

The magnitude of this bereavement is too great for weeping to reach

Indeed the destiny of misery rose to the extent of crying

its extent, even if hearts themselves were tears.

Even if hearts were tears

وَلَو أَنَّ قَلبي بَعدَ يَومِكَ صَخرَةٌ

وَلَو أَنَّ قَلبي بَعدَ يَومِكَ صَخرَةٌ

لَبانَ بِها وَجداً عَلَيكَ صُدوعُ

لَبانَ بِها وَجداً عَلَيكَ صُدوعُ

And if my heart, after your passing, were a rock,

And even if after your day my heart becomes rock

cracks would show in it from grief for you.

With passion for you, cracks would flow from it