لَقَد سَرَّ العَدُوَّ وَساءَ سَعداً

لَقَد سَرَّ العَدُوَّ وَساءَ سَعداً

عَلى القَعقاعِ قَبرِ فَتىً هِجانِ

عَلى القَعقاعِ قَبرِ فَتىً هِجانِ

It has indeed gladdened the enemy and saddened Sa'd—

The enemy rejoiced and Sa'd grieved

the grave over al-Qa'qaa', a youth of noble stock.

At the tomb of a valiant youth in Al-Qa'qa'

أَلا تَبكي بَنو سَعدٍ فَتاها

أَلا تَبكي بَنو سَعدٍ فَتاها

لِأَيّامِ السَماحَةِ وَالطِعانِ

لِأَيّامِ السَماحَةِ وَالطِعانِ

Will the sons of Sa'd not weep for their young champion,

Will not Sa'd's sons weep for their gallant one

for days of generosity and spear-thrusts—

For the days of magnanimity and spears?

فَتاها لِلعَظائِمِ إِن أَلَمَّت

فَتاها لِلعَظائِمِ إِن أَلَمَّت

وَلِلحَربِ المُشَمِّرَةِ العَوانِ

وَلِلحَربِ المُشَمِّرَةِ العَوانِ

their champion for great calamities, should they befall,

A gallant one for great deeds if they pained

and for war, girded up and fought anew?

And for cleaving war equipped and ready

كَأَنَّ اللَحدَ يَومَ أَقامَ فيهِ

كَأَنَّ اللَحدَ يَومَ أَقامَ فيهِ

تَضَمَّنَ صَدرَ مَصقولٍ يَماني

تَضَمَّنَ صَدرَ مَصقولٍ يَماني

As though the burial niche, the day he dwelt in it,

As if the grave the day he stayed in it

enclosed the forepart of a polished Yemeni sword.

Contained the breast of a polished Yemeni

فَتىً كانَت يَداهُ بِكُلِّ عُرفٍ

فَتىً كانَت يَداهُ بِكُلِّ عُرفٍ

إِذا جَمَدَ الأَكُفُّ تَدَفَّقانِ

إِذا جَمَدَ الأَكُفُّ تَدَفَّقانِ

A youth whose two hands, with every kindness,

A youth whose hands were with every virtue

poured forth whenever palms froze.

When fists were clenched, flowing open-handed