رَآهُ طَرفي عَلى طرفٍ يمرّ بهِ

رَآهُ طَرفي عَلى طرفٍ يمرّ بهِ

فَشنَّ غارةَ دمعٍ منهُ مُنسفكِ

فَشنَّ غارةَ دمعٍ منهُ مُنسفكِ

My eye saw him riding past upon a noble steed,

My eyes caught a glimpse of him passing by

So it launched a raid of tears streaming from it.

So it unleashed a shower of flowing tears

مرّت سَوابقهُ في إثرِ عِثيرهِ

مرّت سَوابقهُ في إثرِ عِثيرهِ

مرّ السحابِ دوينَ البدرِ في الفلكِ

مرّ السحابِ دوينَ البدرِ في الفلكِ

Their forerunners passed in the wake of his dust,

His virtues have passed in the wake of his glory

Like clouds passing just beneath the full moon in the heavens.

The moon passes fleetingly across the celestial sphere

مُقلّداً بِحسامٍ غيرِ ناظرهِ

مُقلّداً بِحسامٍ غيرِ ناظرهِ

أَما كفاهُ حسامُ الناظرِ الحلكِ

أَما كفاهُ حسامُ الناظرِ الحلكِ

Girded with a sword besides his eye—

Girded with a sword, his gaze not on me

Did the sword of his jet-black eye not suffice him?

Has not the gaze's sword been enough for me?

سَيفانِ كلٌّ صقيلٌ حدُّ صارمهِ

سَيفانِ كلٌّ صقيلٌ حدُّ صارمهِ

هَذا لِغَيري وَذا يا مُهجتي فلكِ

هَذا لِغَيري وَذا يا مُهجتي فلكِ

Two swords, each with its keen blade’s edge burnished:

Two polished blades, each with a cutting edge

This one is for another, and that one, O my heart, is for you.

One for another, the other, my heart, for you to ravage