كأنك بالزوار لي قد تبادروا

وقيل لها أودي علي بن أحمد

As if you had hurried visitors to me

It is as though the visitors have already hastened toward me,

And it was said to her: This is Ali ibn Ahmad

And it was said to her: 'Ali ibn Ahmad has passed away!'

فيا رب محزونٍ هناك وضاحكٍ

وكم أدمعٍ تدرى وخد مخدد

Oh Lord, sorrowful there and laughing here

Ah, how many will be grieving then, and how many laughing,

And how many tears you know, and scratched cheeks

And how many tears will be shed, furrowing down the cheeks!

عفا اللَه عني يوم أرحل ظاعناً

عن الأهل محمولاً إلى بطن ملحد

May Allah forgive me the day I depart, stumbling

May God pardon me on the day I depart on my journey,

Away from family, carried to the belly of an unbeliever

Carried away from my kin into the hollow of the grave,

وأترك ما قد كنت مغتبطاً به

وألقى الذي آنست منه بمرصد

And I leave what I had happily rejoiced in

Leaving behind all that I once rejoiced in and cherished,

And I meet what I had kept watch for at my lookout

To meet that which lies in wait for me, keeping watch;

فوا راحتي إن كان زادي مقدماً

ويا نصيبي الذي أن كنت لم أتزود

Oh my comfort, if my provisions are sent ahead

Oh, what sweet rest is mine if my provisions have gone ahead,

Oh my fate, if I have not prepared

And oh, what distress if I have made no provision at all!