ولمَّا ابْتُلِيتُ بفقدِ الكرامِ

ولمَّا ابْتُلِيتُ بفقدِ الكرامِ

وذَمِّ الزَّمان وأصحابِهِ

وذَمِّ الزَّمان وأصحابِهِ

When I was afflicted by the loss of noble souls,

When afflicted by the loss of nobles

and by censure of the age and its people,

And the reproach of time and its people

فأصْبَحْتُ أَمْدحُ أهلَ القبور

فأصْبَحْتُ أَمْدحُ أهلَ القبور

وأهلُ المقابرِ أولى بِهِ

وأهلُ المقابرِ أولى بِهِ

I began to praise the dwellers in the graves;

I took to praising those in graves

and those in the cemeteries are more deserving of that praise.

And those in tombs as most deserving