لهف قلبي على أفول الشهاب

تحفة القوم نزهة الأصحابِ

My heart yearns for the fall of a shooting star

The jewel of the people, delight of companions

كان في مطلع البلاغة يسرى

فتوارى من الثرى بحجابِ

He shone at the dawn of eloquence

Then slipped away, shrouded in earth

فقدت بره أيامي المعاني

ويتامى جواهر الآدابِ

I lost the meaning of my days through him

And the gems of literature were orphaned

هطلت أدمع السحاب عليه

وقليل فيه دموع السحابِ

The clouds' tears rained down upon him

While few were the clouds' tears for him

وذوو الجمع أصبحوا حين ولى

كلهم جامعا بلا محرابِ

And those who gathered together when he passed

Became united without a prayer niche

ربع بلواي آهل منذ أخلى

كتبي من سؤاله والجوابِ

My quarter has been desolate since he left

Empty of his questions and answers

يا شهاباً طلوعه في سما الفضل

ولكن أفوله في الترابِ

O shooting star, your rise was in the sky of virtue

Yet your fall was into dust

لك فيما ألفت تذكرة مما

انتقى حسن دره أولو الألبابِ

In what you composed is a reminder

Of the finest pearls chosen by the wise

روضة أينعت بفاكهة من

حسن لفظ كثيرة وشرابِ

A garden that flourished with the fruits

Of fine words and ample drink

فسقى تربها الرباب لتهتز

وتربو على سماع الربابِ

Its soil watered by the rain

To sway and grow to the lute’s music

ورأى كسره فقابله الله

تعالى بالجبر يوم الحسابِ

And He saw its loss so God

Repaid it on Judgement Day