وسألتُ عنه فقيلَ مَاتَ لِمَا به

قلبُ النَّدى لا شكَّ ماتَ لِما به

I asked about him, and was told he had died because of what ailed him

The heart of dew certainly died because of what ailed him

وكأنَّما بَخُلَ الزَّمانُ على الوَرى

ببقائِه أو هابَه فبدا به

As if time was stingy in keeping him alive for the people

Or feared him, so did away with him

فلِمَن أصونُ مَدامعي من بعدِه

ولأيِّما أبكيهِ من أسبابِه

For whom shall I now preserve my tears after him?

And for what cause shall I weep for him?

لخِطابِه لجوابِه لِصوابِه

لِحفاظِه لِثوابِه لِعقابِه

For his address, his response, his propriety

For his safekeeping, his reward, his punishment

للحَملِ عن مُنتابِه للنُّصْحِ عن

أسبابِه للصَّفْحِ عن مُغتابِه

For bearing others' faults, for advising properly

For pardoning detractors,

لِلبيضِ من أثوابِه للزُّهرِ من

آرائِهِ للغُرِّ من آدابِه

For his fair raiment, for the flowers of his views

For his gravity, or manners, or his reciting the Quran

لِحجاه أم لِنُهاهُ أم لِقراه أم

لعُلاه أم لنَداه في أصحابِه

Or his excellence, or his liberality among his comrades

Or one who hoped after him to ward off harm

أم من يُرَجِّي بعدَه صرَفَ الرَّدى

عن نفسِه بجِلادِه وضِرابِه

From himself by his firmness and punishment?

Alas! weeping avails naught when the lion of time

هيهاتَ لا يُغني البُكاءُ إذا سَطا

أَسَدُ الزمانِ بمِخلَبيْهِ ونابِه

Rends with his claws and fangs.

And if death made him drink a bitter cup,

ولَئِنْ سَقاهُ الموتُ كأساً مُرَّةً

فلْيَشربنَّ الموتُ مثلَ شَرابِه

Then death should drink the like of his draught!