إلى كم ترينا صروف الزمن

إلى كم ترينا صروف الزمن

بفقد الخليط صنوف المحن

بفقد الخليط صنوف المحن

For how long will time's vicissitudes show us,

How long do you see the turns of time

through the loss of companions, every kind of affliction?

With the loss of variety of tribulations

قضت في الورى بلزوم الردى

قضت في الورى بلزوم الردى

كأنا وصرف الردى في قرن

كأنا وصرف الردى في قرن

They have decreed inevitable death for humankind,

It has ruled in existence with the necessity of misfortune

as though we and death's stroke were bound by one tether.

As if I and the turns of misfortune are contemporaries

أحن وهل نافع بعدما

أحن وهل نافع بعدما

تنائى الحباء أني أحن

تنائى الحباء أني أحن

I yearn—but is there any use, after

More grieving, and is it beneficial after

my loved ones have grown distant, in my yearning?

The loved ones have gone far, that I grieve

وقائلةٍ لي لا تخلعن

وقائلةٍ لي لا تخلعن

ثياب المصاب إذا ما أرجحن

ثياب المصاب إذا ما أرجحن

And a woman said to me: 'Do not strip off

And a speaker to me, do not take off

the mourner's garments when he reels under the weight.

The clothes of affliction if they weigh down

تعز فكم لك من سلوةٍ

تعز فكم لك من سلوةٍ

تفرج عنك كروب الحزن

تفرج عنك كروب الحزن

Take solace—how many consolations are yours,

Be patient, for how much solace do you have

to lift from you the anguish of sorrow!'

That relieves you of the anguish of grief

فقلتأجل ليس سكب الدموع

فقلتأجل ليس سكب الدموع

لغير مصاب الحسين الحسن

لغير مصاب الحسين الحسن

So I said: 'Yes, the shedding of tears is not

So I said, indeed, not pouring tears

for any loss but that of the fair Husayn,

Except for the afflictions of al-Husayn and al-Hasan

شباباً قضى لم يفز بالمنى

شباباً قضى لم يفز بالمنى

ولا قر في عيشه واطمأن

ولا قر في عيشه واطمأن

who died in his youth, his wishes unfulfilled,

A youth who passed away without attaining his wishes

nor found repose and peace in his life.'

Neither settled in his life nor tranquility