أَلا بكّر الناعي بِخيرِ بَني أسد

أَلا بكّر الناعي بِخيرِ بَني أسد

بعمرو بن مسعودٍ وَبالسيّدِ الصّمَد

بعمرو بن مسعودٍ وَبالسيّدِ الصّمَد

Ah, the death-announcer came early with news of the best of Asad’s sons,

Alas! The mourner has brought good tidings of the clan of Asad

of ‘Amr son of Mas‘ud, and of the lord sought in need.

Of Amr ibn Mas'ud and the independent lord.

فمن كانَ يَعْيَا بالجوابِ فإنّه

فمن كانَ يَعْيَا بالجوابِ فإنّه

أبو مَعقلٍ لا حَجْرَ عنه ولا صدَدْ

أبو مَعقلٍ لا حَجْرَ عنه ولا صدَدْ

So if anyone is at a loss for the answer, it is

So whoever would reply with an answer, he is

Abu Ma‘qil—none is barred from him or turned away.

Abu Ma'qil, whom no rock can stop nor mountain obstruct.

أثارُوا بصَحراء الثَّويّة قَبرَه

أثارُوا بصَحراء الثَّويّة قَبرَه

وما كنتُ أخْشَى أن تَنَاءَى به البَلدْ

وما كنتُ أخْشَى أن تَنَاءَى به البَلدْ

They dug his grave in the desert of al-Thawiyya,

They have raised his grave in the desert of Thuwa

and I had never feared that the land would carry him so far away.

And I did not fear it would be lost in the land.