شَقّت عليك بواكر الأَضعان

لا بَل شَجاك تشتّتُ الجيرانِ

The early dawns have weighed heavy upon you,

The early departure of the camel litters weighed heavily upon you,

Nay, but the scattering of neighbors has wounded you,

Nay, rather it was the scattering of the neighbors that brought you grief;

وهم الأُلى كانوا هَواكَ فَأَصبَحوا

قَطعوا بينهم قُوى الأَقران

And they who were your love became

They are the ones who were your heart's desire, yet they have come

Sundered by the forces of estrangement.

To sever the cords of union amongst themselves,

وَرأيت يَومَ دبيلَ أَمراً مفظِعاً

لا يَستَطيع حواره الشَفتان

And I saw on the day of Dabil a dreadful thing

And you witnessed on the day of Dabil a horrific affair,

That lips cannot speak nor describe.

Which the lips are powerless to recount.