يا من صفا ودُّ صدري

له وسِرّي وجهري

O you who my heart's affection knew

Its secrets and overt words too

ومن تكدَّر عندي

لرزئه صفوُ دهري

He whose loss made my life bitter

Disturbing its calm tenor

ما مات ركنك لا بل

ركني وفخري وذُخري

You did not die, nay but my pillar

My pride and store you were

لو كنتُ أملِك عمري

وهبتُه شَطر عمري

Had my life been mine to offer

Half of it for you I'd proffer

أو كنت اسطيع دفعاً

عنه بروحي ووَفْري

Or had I the power to ward

With my soul and wealth, rim guard

دافعت عنه المنايا

وكلِّ فادحِ أمر

I'd have warded off your death

And each mighty mischief's breath

وقَلَّ في واجب الحِف

ظ عنه دفعي ونصري

But in the duty of your guard

My drive and aid were marred

ما كان إلاّ يمني

ومُقلتَيَّ وأَزْرِي

You were but my right hand side

And pupil and family pride

لئن تولّى حميداً

بكلّ مدحٍ وشكر

If you faced praise, acclamation

Gracious thanks and celebration

لَحَسْبُه لك فينا

نَجْلاً وخِلفةَ فخر

It would suffice you from us, son

Heir and pride's paragon

يلقَى الزمان بحزمٍ

والمَكْرُماتِ ببِشر

Meeting eras with reason's gauge

And bounties with cheer and courage

لم تَنْء منه المنايا

عنّا بطيٍّ ونَشْرِ

Death took you not from us

With any feebleness or harm

ولا بفضل وبذل

ولا بسهل ووعر

Nor for lack of generosity

On plateau or in valley

بل كل ذا فيك أمسى

حريّة في ابن حرّ

Nay, but all this in you was found

As freedom in a freeman bound

وكان جسماً وروحاً

يسمو بها كلُّ بَرّ

In body and soul that did rise

Above all noble enterprise

فالجسم بان وأودى

وروحه فيك يجري

So the body failed and fell

But his soul in you does dwell

كذاك لو وَلَد البد

رُ لم يَلدْ غيرَ بدر

Thus too, if the full moon bred

It would naught beget but full moon instead

يا مورِثي بملامي

رسِيس همّ وذعرِ

O you who accused me of regrets

Torment and agony's frets

ومُتْهِمي بظنون

لم تدر ما عَقْد سِرِّي

And blamed me for suspicions

Not knowing my secret decisions

قليل لومك أمضى

من كل بِيض وسُمْر

Your little blame hurts me more

Than any white or brown ignores

وخُوْنُ عهِدك عندي

أشدّ من كل كفرِ

And breach of your covenant to me

Is worse than any heresy

وكيف ترضى يميني

مني لقلبي بغدر

And how could you assume my oath

To my heart was by fraud forsooth

ما كان تركي صلاتي

على أبيك وأجري

I did not cease my prayers over

Your father and rewarder

إلا لداءٍ دهاني

وحلَّ عُقْدةَ صبري

Except for an illness that wrapped me

And loosened my patience's knot

وحلّ بالرِجْل مني

فجذَّ خطوي وخَطْري

Afflicting my foot such that it withdrew

My steps and endeavors too

حتى لقد عاقَني عن

صلاةِ ظُهري وعصري

Until I was even prevented

From noon and afternoon consented

فاعِذر فقد راح صدقي

إليك يسعى بعذري

So excuse me, my truth hastens

To you with my apology's reasons

واعلم بأن مصابي

على أبيك وضرّي

And know my sorrow for your father

And my loss, is even graver

مصاب قيسِ بليلى

ووجدُ خَنْسا بصخر

Than Kais's love for Layla

And Khensa's passion for Sakhr