أَلا هَل لما وَلّى من العَيش مَرجِعُ

وَهَل في خُلود النَفس لِلنَفس مَطمَعُ

Alas! When one departs from life, is there a return?

Is there any return for the life that has turned away, or any hope for the soul to achieve immortality?

And does the soul find eternal rest for itself?

Is the prudent man any different from the helpless one, when the expected fate descends upon a human?

وَهَل حازِمٌ إِلّا كآخرَ عاجِزٍ

إِذا حَلَّ بالإِنسان ما يتوقّع

When misfortune befalls a man, is any resolute

Does a soul follow a cherished soul that was dear to its kin, or can what has been decreed ever be turned back?

Except as one helpless in the end?

Does a man have any protector to shield him from death, so that he might rest secure and unalarmed?

وَهَل تَقتَدي نَفس بِنَفس عَزيزة

عَلى أَهلِها أَم هَل لما حُمّ مرجع

Does the soul of a dear one follow another soul?

You see a man striving for what holds his benefit, yet his soul detests a thing though it brings him good.

Or when death comes, is there no going back?

O the sorrow of man! What has seized his reason? Does he not see the path of rightness and hear the truth?

وَهَل لِلفَتى جارٌ يجنّبه الرَدى

فَيًصبِح فيه آمِناً لا يُروّع

Does a young man have a neighbor to guard him from harm,

You see him dignified when he is content, yet find him a groveling slave when he covets.

So he wakes securely with no cause for fear?

Will a flowing tear avail me if I shed it freely, for the loss of those who parted from us and bade farewell?

تَرى المَرءُ يَسعى لِلَّذي فيهِ خَيرُهُ

وَتَكرَه شَيئاً نَفسُه وَهوَ يَنفَعُ

A man strives for what is good for him,

I call out to them with the earth standing between us; though they hear not my voice, they answered the call of fate with haste.

Yet his soul dislikes what will benefit him.

They have gone before me as predecessors, and I am left behind, waiting for an appointed end, after which I shall follow.

فَيا حَسرَةَ الإِنسان ما اغتال عقله

أَلَيسَ يَرى وَجهَ السداد وَيَسمَع

How pitiful is man when his mind betrays him!

They asked, "Will you not weep for Kharim bin 'Amir?" I replied, "Yes, if weeping could bring any gain."

Does he not see the right way and hear it?

I shall weep for Abu 'Amr—and he deserves such grief—with a weary, tearful eye that overflows and pours.

تَراهُ عَزيزاً حينَ يًصبِح قانِعاً

وَتَلقاهُ عَبداً ضارِعاً حينَ يَطمَع

You see him independent when he is content,

I weep for Abu 'Amr for the sake of the destitute guest, and for the needy one, weary and at a loss for what to do.

And find him a slave, pleading, when he is greedy.

He was the voice of the tribe of Qays and its defending fang; through him, Qays could strike harm or bestow benefit.

فَهَل تَنفَعَنّي عبرةٌ إِن سفحتُها

لفقد أُناس فارَقونا فَودَّعوا

Can it avail me to pour forth my grief

For loved ones who left us and bade farewell?

أُناديهم وَالأَرضُ بَيني وَبينَهم

وَلَم يَسمَعوا صَوتي أَجابوا فَأَسرَعوا

I call to them while the earth lies between us.

They do not hear my voice or answer, but hurry on.

مَضوا سَلَفاً قَبلي فَخلِّفتُ بعدهم

إِلى غاية مَبلوغة ثُمَّ اتبع

They departed before me, leaving me behind

Until the fated moment when I will follow.

وَقالوا أَلا تَبكي خَريم بن عامِر

فَقُلتُ بَلى إِن كانَ ذَلِكَ يَنفَع

They said: Do not weep for Kharija ibn 'Amir!

I said: Yes, if that will avail.

سَأَبكي أَبا عَمرو وحقّ بُكاؤُهُ

بمطروفةٍ عبرى تَفيض وَتَدمَع

I will weep for Abu 'Amr - rightly he deserves weeping -

With copious flowing tears of sorrow.

وَأَبكي أَبا عمرو لضيف مدقَّع

وَذي حاجة أعيى بِها كَيفَ يَصنَع

I will weep for Abu 'Amr, for a guest with covered face,

For one in need with which he knew not what to do.

وَكانَ لِسانَ الحيّ قيسٍ وَنابَها

وَكانَت بِهِ قَيسٌ تضرَّ وَتَنفَع

He was the tongue of the living tribe of Qais and its sharp sword.

Through him Qais did injury and brought benefit.