بذلنا لذكرى الأربعين دموعنا

ولو نفع المبكى بكينا لها دما

We shed our tears in mourning for the fortieth day

If crying could benefit, we would have cried blood

وقد كنت أرجو موسم العام ملتقىً

لأهلي فكان الملتقى فيه مأتما

I had hoped this year's season a meeting place

For my family, but the meeting place became a funeral

فيا ليتنا في الأرض أشتات فرقة

وليتك كنت الحي فيها المنعَّما

Oh how I wish we were scattered factions on earth

And that you were the one alive and well among them

أمثليَ عمٌّ عاش بين بني أخٍ

أبرُّ بهم من والديهم وأرحما

An uncle who lived between his brother's sons

Kinder to them than their parents and more merciful

تعهدت وحدي من تبنَّيت منهمُ

فكنت الأب الأعلى وكنت المعلما

I alone took care of those I adopted from them

So I was the highest father and I was the teacher

وما الحزن من أمٍّ على ابنٍ ومن أب

بأكبر من حزني عليك وأعظما

No mother's sadness over a son, no father's

Is greater than my sadness over you or more intense

فليت الذي أرداك في نضرة الصبا

طوى عمك الكهل الكبير المهدما

Oh how I wish the one who took you in the prime of youth

Had taken your aged, crumbling uncle instead

ثلاثين عاماً أم ثلاثين ساعة

أخذت من العمر النصيب المحتما

Thirty years or thirty hours

That took the destined share from the lifespan

نأى عن شقيقيه الشقيق ولم يعد

وما اعتدت منه نأي يومين عنهما

The brother moved away from his brothers and did not return

I never got used to him being away from them for two days

يعز عليَّ اليوم أنك خارج

وأنك لم تدخل عليَّ مسلِّما

It hurts me today that you are gone

And that you did not come to bid me farewell

حياتك فينا استعجلتها حداتها

وماكان أغلاها حياة وأكرما

Your life among us, its events rushed it away

No life was more precious or honorable

ولولا شكاتي من سماع ورؤية

وضيقي بها حرمت أن أتكلما

And had it not been for my complaints of hearing and seeing

And my unease with them, I would not have stopped speaking

ومن كان يرجو صحة وسلامة

فإنّيَ أخشى أن أصح وأسلما

He who was hoping for health and safety

I fear I will be well and unharmed

وإن شاءت الأحزان تركي طلبتها

كأنيَ بالأحزان أصبحت مغرما

If sorrows wanted to leave me, I sought them

It is as if I have become infatuated with sorrows

ولو كنت مختاراً لكنت لدى المدى

لعمرك من عمري المطيلَ المتمما

If I had a choice, I would be, for your lifetime

Adding to my lifetime that complements it

وما أنا عن حرب وسلم بسائل

ولا عن مكان القوم بعدك منهما

I do not ask about war or peace

Or where the people are after you among them

وما نافعي بعد الذي أنا فاقد

من الأهل أن ألقى لي الملك مغنما

It is no use to me, after those I have lost

Of family, if the king gave me spoils