وَإِنّي لأَربابِ القُبورِ لَغابِط

بِسُكنى سَعيدٍ بَينَ أَهلِ المَقابِرِ

I envy the dwellers of tombs, so blissful

In their abode mid the silent community.

وَإِنّي لَمَفجوعٌ بِهِ إِذ تَكاثَرَت

عداتي وَلَم أَهتِف سواهُ بِناصِرِ

I grieve for him as foes increasingly throng;

None but he would I hail as a champion.

وَكُنتُ كَمَغلوبٍ عَلى نَصلِ سَيفِهِ

وَقَد حزَّ فيهِ نَصلُ حَرّانَ باتِرِ

As a victim subdued by his sword’s sharp edge

That a hot-blooded blade made none too blunt

أَتَيناهُ زوّاراً فَأَمجَدنا قِرىً

مِنَ البَثِّ وَالداءِ الدَخيلِ المخامِرِ

We came to visit, so he graced us with homes

Far from woes and from plagues of an alien kind,

وَأُبنا بِزرعٍ قَد نَما في صُدورِنا

مِنَ الوَجدِ يُسقى بِالدُموعِ البَوادِرِ

Our hearts nurtured a crop that was watered

With tears in abundance when evil impended.

وَلَمّا حَضَرنا لاِقتِسامِ تُراثِهِ

أَصَبنا عظيماتِ اللُّهى وَالمَآثِرِ

When we gathered to share in dividing his wealth,

God gave us great boons and rich legacies.

وَأَسمَعنا بِالصّمتِ رَجعُ جَوابِهِ

فَأَبلِغ بِهِ مِن ناطِقٍ لَم يُحاورِ

Though he answered our speech with an eloquent silence,

No speaker could match his profoundly wise words.