غالَت بني مَطَرَ الأيامُ واكتأبَت

كأنما استعبَرت من بعدهِم ندَما

The days destroyed Banu Matar, then sank into grief,

as though, after them, they wept in remorse.

أمّا وقَد غَدَرَتْ بِيضُ السيوفِ بهم

فليسَ تَرعَى لخَلْقٍ بعدَهم ذِمَما

But now that the white swords have betrayed them,

they will honor no covenant with any creature after them.

فنازحٌ حكَمَ الأعداءُ في دمِه

وكان في مُهَجِ الأعداءِ مُحتكِما

One far away—his enemies passed judgment upon his blood,

though he had held judgment over his enemies’ very lifeblood.

وباسطُ الباعِ يَسقِي الغيثُ رِمَّتَه

قبلَ الأنامِ إذا ما فاضَ فانسجَما

Open-handed and far-reaching in bounty—the rain waters his remains

before all humankind, whenever it overflows and pours.

مُغضي الجُفونِ على هيفاءَ ساميةٍ

قد وشَّحَته ظُباةُ المشرَفيِّ دَما

One who lowered his eyes before a slender, stately woman,

the point of a Mashrafī sword had sashed him in blood.

كأنَّما بشَّروه بالرجوعِ إلى

ما كانَ منه فغضَّ الطَّرْفَ وابتسَما

As though they had brought him glad tidings of returning to

that from which he came, he lowered his gaze and smiled.