دَعاكَ المَوْتُ وَهْوَ أَمَرُّ داعي

دَعاكَ المَوْتُ وَهْوَ أَمَرُّ داعي

وكانَ الرَّدُّ خَلْفَكَ صَوْتَ ناعي

وكانَ الرَّدُّ خَلْفَكَ صَوْتَ ناعي

Death called you—the bitterest of callers.

Death called you, though calling you was bitterest,

And the reply behind you was a voice announcing death.

And turning back was but a mourner's muted cries.

فأَوْدَعْتَ الضُّلوعَ حَنينَ ذِكْرٍ

فأَوْدَعْتَ الضُّلوعَ حَنينَ ذِكْرٍ

سَيَبْقَى حارِقًا بَعْدَ الوَداعِ

سَيَبْقَى حارِقًا بَعْدَ الوَداعِ

So you left within our ribs the ache of remembrance,

You left within the ribs a yearning memory

Which will burn on after farewell.

That will burn on beyond the last goodbyes.

مَضَيْتَ كَما حَيِيْتَ كَريمَ نَفْسٍ

مَضَيْتَ كَما حَيِيْتَ كَريمَ نَفْسٍ

جَميلًا في العِيانِ وفي السَّماعِ

جَميلًا في العِيانِ وفي السَّماعِ

You departed as you lived, noble of soul,

You went as you had lived, a noble soul,

Beautiful to behold and to hear.

Fair-visaged and in name without surmise:

"وَلَوْ صَوَّرتَ نَفْسَكَ لَمْ تَزِدْها

"وَلَوْ صَوَّرتَ نَفْسَكَ لَمْ تَزِدْها

عَلَى ما فيكَ مِنْ كَرَمِ الطِّباعِ"

عَلَى ما فيكَ مِنْ كَرَمِ الطِّباعِ"

"And even had you fashioned yourself, you could not have surpassed

"And if you pictured yourself, you'd add no grace

The nobility of character already within you."

To what inhered in you of nature's pride."