بنفسيَ من أودعتُها التُرْبَ راغِماً

أغضّ من الغُصنِ الرطيبِ وأنعما

With my own hands I buried her in the ground,

Though she was softer than moist branches and more gentle.

وجُدتُ بها لا عن ملالٍ وإنَّما

غُلبتُ عليها مُكْرَهاً متهضَّما

I was not tired of her, but

I overpowered her against her will in resignation.

ألا ليتَ أَنَّا ما اصطحبنا ولم نَبِتْ

قرينَينِ في خَفْضٍ من العيشِ توأَمَا

Oh, would that we had never accompanied each other,

And lived as equal twins in humble life!

ولم نُرزَقِ الوصلَ الذي عادَ فُرْقةً

ولم نعهدِ العُرسَ الذي صار مأتما

Would that we were not granted the union which turned to separation,

Nor promised the wedding that became a funeral!

مضتْ حين لم أصغُرْ فأجهَلَ قَدْرَها

ولم أَعْمُرِ الدهرَ الطويلَ فأحلُما

She left at a time when I did not appreciate her worth,

And had not lived long enough in this world to be wise.

وعِشتُ صحيحاً سالماً بعد يومِها

وحسبيَ داءً أن أصِحَّ وأسلَمَا

After she left I lived healthy and sound,

And it is enough of an illness for me to recover and be safe.

ولو خيَّروني بين كفِّي وبينَها

لآثرتُ أن تبقَى وأُصبِحَ أجذمَا

If given a choice between my hands and her,

I would prefer that she remain and I become handless.