شكا ألم التوديع وهو أليم

شكا ألم التوديع وهو أليم

محب بروعات الفراق عليم

محب بروعات الفراق عليم

He lamented the pain of farewell, himself in pain—

He lamented the pain of parting, though it was agonizing,

a lover well acquainted with the terrors of separation.

An expert in the wonders of separation, a lover.

وذم حميد العيش من بعد راحل

وذم حميد العيش من بعد راحل

صحيح الأماني أو يعود سقيم

صحيح الأماني أو يعود سقيم

And he scorned life's sweetness after one departed,

And he blamed the praiseworthy life after the departed one,

sound in his hopes—or else he becomes sick.

Whether he is honest in his hopes or becomes ill again.

أفي مثل عز الدين تفجعنا النوى

أفي مثل عز الدين تفجعنا النوى

ولا يغتدي فوق الوجوه وجوم

ولا يغتدي فوق الوجوه وجوم

Can parting bereave us of one like ʿIzz al-Dīn,

Can the intentions make us grieve over the likes of Izz al-Din,

and no silent grief dawn upon our faces?

While gloom does not transgress upon the faces?

أغر له من بيت عامر سؤدد

أغر له من بيت عامر سؤدد

له المجد منه حادث وقديم

له المجد منه حادث وقديم

A radiant man, with nobility from the house of ʿĀmir,

It is more beloved to him than a populated house in ruins

his glory from it both newly won and ancient.

Glory belongs to him, whether it is new or old.

نودع من عالي ركابيه حضرة

نودع من عالي ركابيه حضرة

لها الحمد منه ظاعن ومقيم

لها الحمد منه ظاعن ومقيم

We bid farewell to an august presence above his lofty stirrups,

We bid farewell to the one with the high stirrups, a presence

whose praise, through him, travels and abides.

To whom praise belongs, whether he is departing or staying.

مضت معه الأرواح فاستوحشت لها

مضت معه الأرواح فاستوحشت لها

معالم من أجسادنا ورسوم

معالم من أجسادنا ورسوم

Our souls went with him, leaving desolate in their absence

The souls have gone with him, so they missed him,

the outlines and traces of our bodies.

As features from our bodies and portraits.

فأنت حياة ليس من دونها غنى

فأنت حياة ليس من دونها غنى

وأنت حياً هام ونحن هشيم

وأنت حياً هام ونحن هشيم

For you are life, which we cannot do without;

You are life without which there is no richness,

and you are pouring rain, while we are dry stubble.

And you are alive, wandering while we are rubble.

ألا حبذا في العمر يوم وليلة

ألا حبذا في العمر يوم وليلة

يهب لنا بالقرب منك نسيم

يهب لنا بالقرب منك نسيم

Ah, how lovely in life a day and a night

Oh, excellent in life is a day and night

when a breeze blows for us near you!

That brings us close to you like a breeze.

ونثلم من بعد الثرى بطن راحة

ونثلم من بعد الثرى بطن راحة

أناملها فوق الغيوم غيوم

أناملها فوق الغيوم غيوم

And after the dust, we notch the hollow of a palm,

And after the burial, we touch with fingers

whose fingertips are clouds above the clouds.

Above the clouds, clouds.

وما للغنى أزمعت بيناً وإنما

وما للغنى أزمعت بيناً وإنما

غناؤك في الخطب العظيم عظيم

غناؤك في الخطب العظيم عظيم

And you did not resolve to leave for wealth; rather,

Wealth holds no purpose between us, but rather

great is your help in a great calamity.

Your chant in great speeches is great.

وأنت الذي مازال في كل حادث

وأنت الذي مازال في كل حادث

يجلي سواد الخطب وهو بهيم

يجلي سواد الخطب وهو بهيم

And you are the one who has never ceased, in every crisis,

You who still in every incident

to dispel calamity's darkness, though it is pitch-black.

Clarifies the darkness of affairs when it is muddled.

وأقسم ما فوق البسيطة جاهل

وأقسم ما فوق البسيطة جاهل

بأنك للملك العقيم قسيم

بأنك للملك العقيم قسيم

And I swear: no one upon the earth is unaware

And I swear by what is above the ground in ignorance

that you are a partner in sovereignty, barren though it is,

That you are partner to the barren king.

وأنك من أقوى قواعده التي

وأنك من أقوى قواعده التي

بها مقعد عند العدى ومقيم

بها مقعد عند العدى ومقيم

and that you are among its strongest foundations, which

And that you are among the strongest of his foundations

give it a firm seat and enduring presence before its foes.

By which he has a seat with the enemy and stays.

فأوص بنا صرف الزمان فإنه

فأوص بنا صرف الزمان فإنه

لئيم وإن أوصيته فكريم

لئيم وإن أوصيته فكريم

So charge the turns of time to care for us, for time

So advise the turning of time, for it is

is mean; yet if you charge it thus, it is generous.

Wicked, and if you advise it, it is generous.