أَلا عَلِّلاني قَبلَ نَوحِ النَوائِحِ

وَقبلَ اطِّلاعِ النَفسِ بَينَ الجَوانِحِ

Oh, comfort me before the wailing women mourn, and before the soul rises between the ribs.

And before tomorrow—alas for my soul regarding tomorrow—when my companions leave, and I do not leave.

وَقَبلَ غَدٍ يا لَهفَ نَفسي عَلى غَدٍ

إِذا راحَ أَصحابي وَلَستُ بِرائِحِ

When my companions leave with overflowing tears, and I am left in a grave, with slabs placed over me.

They ask, "Have you prepared well for your brother?" yet the grave in the desolate earth is never well.

إِذا راحَ أَصحابي بِفَيضِ دُموعِهِم

وغُودِرتُ في لَحدٍ عَليَّ صَفائِحي

They say, "Do not be far," as they bury me, yet the place of distance is none other than my tomb.

يَقولونَ هَل أَصلَحتُمُ لأَخيكُمُ

وَما الرَمسُ في الأَرضِ القِواءِ بِصالِحِ

يَقولونَ لا تَبعُد وَهُم يَدفِنونَني

وَليسَ مَكانُ البُعدِ إِلا ضَرائِحي