1. لعمكِ فضل اللَه يا أم أسرتي

    فقد بات بيتي لا يضم سواك

    May God's grace encompass you, mother of my family;

    For my home now holds no one but you.

  2. شريكة عمري والسنون عزيزةٌ

    لما منك مطوى بها فطواك

    Companion of my life, the years are precious

    For what of you lies enfolded in them, and has enfolded you.

  3. نسلنا فزوجنا فعدنا كبدئنا

    سوى الشيب شياخاً برأس فتاك

    We had children, married them off, and returned to how we began,

    Save for gray hair—old men upon your young man's head.

  4. قطعنا الشباب الغض حباً وعفةً

    فهل مرجعٌ منا لعهدك ذاك

    We passed through tender youth in love and chastity;

    Is there, then, any return for us to that time of yours?

  5. وكنت متى أنو النوى تشتكيه لي

    بكاءً كما أني شكوت نواك

    And whenever I meant to depart, you would lament it to me,

    Weeping, just as I lamented separation from you.

  6. فإن عدت كان البيت لا البين جنةً

    يقابلني بالباب روح شذاك

    And if I returned, home—not separation—became a paradise;

    The breath of your fragrance greeted me at the door.

  7. فو اللَه ما أدرى أزوجاً جديدةً

    أم أزددت حسناً في جديد هواك

    So, by God, I cannot tell: are you a new wife,

    Or have you grown lovelier in renewed love for you?

  8. فلو كل زوجين استضفنا لمرة

    لعدة إذا ما قد يضيف حماك

    For if we hosted every married couple once,

    Then a multitude would be what your sanctuary might host,

  9. ليتخذ الأزواج عنا علاقةً

    متيناً عراها من متين عراك

    So that spouses might take from us a bond

    Whose firm ties are drawn from your own firm ties.

  10. عسى اللَه لم يكتب لي اليوم لا أرى

    خيا لك جنبي إن فيه هلاكي

    May God not have decreed for me the day when I no longer see

    Your form beside me—for that would be my ruin.

  11. فماهد شيخاً مثل فقدان شيخة

    وما من مجيب لو يقول دراك

    For nothing breaks an old man like losing an aged wife,

    And no one answers if he cries, 'Help!'