عَلى الرُغمِ مِن أَنفِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلا

غَدَت دارُهُ قَفراً وَمَغناهُ بَلقَعا

Though he was the epitome of generosity and nobility

His abode has become desolate and his singing haunt a wasteland

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ البَأسَ أَصبَحَ بَعدَهُ

أَشَلَّ وَأَنَّ الجودَ أَصبَحَ أَجدَعا

Have you not seen that since his passing

Valor has become crippled and generosity barren

فَمُرّا عَلى قَبرِ المُسَوَّدِ وَاِنظُرا

إِلى المَجدِ وَالعَلياءِ كَيفَ تَخَشَّعا

So pass by the grave of the black-robed one and behold

How glory and supremacy have become humbled

فَإِن يَكُ واراهُ التُرابُ فَكَبِّرا

عَلى الجودِ وَالمَعروفِ وَالفَضلِ أَربَعا

And if the soil covers him, then exalt

Generosity, kindness, and merit fourfold

وَلا تَسأَما نَوحاً عَلَيهِ مُكَرَّراً

وَنوحاً لِفَقدِ العارِفاتِ مُرَجَّعا

Do not weary of grieving for him repeatedly

And grieving for the loss of the virtuous, a refuge returned to

فَما كانَ قَيسٌ هَلكُهُ هَلكٌ واحِدٌ

وَلَكِنَّهُ بُنيانُ قَومٍ تَضَعضَعا

For the demise of Qais was not a singular demise

But the crumbling edifice of a people shaken

وَلا تَحسَبا أَنّي أُواريهِ وَحدَهُ

وَلَكِنَّني وارَيتُهُ وَالنَدى مَعا

Think not that I bury him alone

But I have buried him and tenderness together