1. Time wages war with calamities so dire
Its sons are prey for death - that archer dire

2. Fortune's turns know not what they bring or ban
Nor cease, and past them is no place to retire

3. It betrays, deceives, desires, yet grants not
Changes, cheats, permits all that was denied

4. If days were lives for us, our life remaining
Is but regret and expectation tired

5. Time's injustice midst life and death's justice
A judge decreeing the final way expired

6. It tempted souls till their Lord tested them
When they claimed and such is the claimant's ire

7. Cast down to lowest place, nature and passion
Though it stood at place most high and aspired

8. Formed for transcendence, then mired in shackles
Of likeness - had it not itself so mired

9. Lost are its paths, else it would brighter be
Than cats in deepest night, and not so tired

10. Its ruin, the loss of the wise and excellent
Pillars; each pioneer peerless and inspired

11. Like the unmatched imam, jurist sagacious
Sea of knowledge, its brilliant moon entire

12. Singer of subtle truths without the Book
Detailer of phrases with meanings inspired

13. Key to rhetoric's mysteries, pole of perfections
And beneficial knowledge forever prized

14. Time's hand snatched his glories, a noble saint
An ocean of hidden and radiant light transpired

15. Mourning him bitterly, as if it mourned
The regretful miser, wealth once acquired

16. High was his reach, so it brought him down
To just three yards - how far that spirit aspired!

17. So the grave found comfort while mosques now suffer
Once filled, now empty, their light expired

18. O time! For knowledge, for virtues, who remains
After exhaustion of that fount untired?

19. You hastened our ruin, sent calamity -
Is there escape, after destruction dire?

20. Glory's blossom, root of purest origin
Toppled by a wind leaving wounds unstaunched and raw

21. What the dust concealed of grace and nobleness
Of awe filling hearts, joy filling eyes, voice to inspire

22. O grave! You are paradise garden now
Bless all who pass, make this place your desire

23. O grave! His face has watered you - thank him
Rejoice! Expand! Of gifts he shall never tire

24. O grave! How you rejoiced in his nearness
Above all spots, most honored site aspired

25. O grave! What treasure has been given you?
Be faithful, be shy, like a trust to guard entire

26. O grave! Let the dust carpet his side
gentler than finest beds his formadmire

27. O grave! Our pains - do not let him know
He had no fear, so do not make him dire

28. O grave! He solved what perplexed all minds
His perfecting moon never rose nor shone entire

29. O grave! Though you conceal his knowledge
You cannot hide the spread of his praise outpoured

30. O lofty mountain! Tower o'er him forever
Rise as high as you wish, you shall bend and cower

31. Not to mention depth of knowledge upon knowledge
A brilliant star outshining the pole star entire

32. O you who wail! Here is a pearl -
Delight the ears of all men who aspire

33. A verse for listeners - contemplate
The many secrets in its corners four

34. Its two halves, omitted and inflected letters
Reveal the date - what workshop thus conspired?

35. Birim your place, in First Rabi', a garden
Of heaven - aired, sweetly scented and entire

36. Brought to you brides of good tidings
In Refuge's protection, most high aspired

37. You shed burdens of duties, never tiring
Or losing, rightly guided and entire

38. We mourn your loss, knowing it is a return
To the homeland, vast, serene and desired

39. Go rewarded, tranquil, pleased with your Lord
Content with the return - the best we can acquire

40. You left behind deeds of grace that have remained
Though time decays them, their trace lingers, entire

41. No! You left a firm pillar for their support
Raising them though it seems their light has expired

42. A branch of your lofty glory's tree - if it falls
Those virtues will fall, as we fear and conspire

43. It stands while sorrows throng it, for it belongs
To them, when they grieve and their hearts are dire

44. Stay, Abu AbduLlah! For we are not
In this calamity with none to aid or speak entire

45. We were struck with what you knew - none but you
Can help, so rise with a heart we trust and admire!

46. You saw the worthy one to have it -
The insight of excellence before her milk teeth bud entire

47. You won the patient's reward and excelled
In gratitude - so restrain the eye! Retire!

48. When you knew the makeup failed to beguile
Consult yourself in your consolation and hear entire

49. Two verses - the latter better, as they flowed forth
When it was said a star fell from its sphere entire

50. To heaven rose Muhammed Birim
Leaving his father a legacy to aspire

51. In him find joy's retreats
And sorrows gain favor, tempered entire