المَرءُ بَعدَ المَوتِ أُحدوثَةٌ

يَفنى وَتَبقى مِنهُ آثارُهُ

Man after death is news

He perishes, but traces of him remain

يَطويهِ مِن أَيّامِهِ ما طَوى

لَكِنَّهُ تُنشَرُ أَسرارُهُ

Time folds up many of his days

Yet his secrets are spread about

فَأَحسَنُ الحالاتِ حالُ اِمرِئٍ

تَطيبُ بَعدَ المَوتِ أَخبارُهُ

So the best condition is that of a man

Whose reputation is sweet after death

يَفنى وَيَبقى ذِكرُهُ بَعده

إِذا خَلَت مِن شَخصِهِ دارُهُ

His mention remains after him

When his home is empty of his person