لئن جلا وأقمنا إنَّه لفتىً
أمسى وكلُّ مقيمٍ بعده جالي
Though he departed, if we stayed it's because
He is a youth who, when he left, left all behind lamenting
أما لئن هِيجَ بلبالُ القلوبِ به
لكمْ كفاها قديماً هَيْج بلبالِ
Yet if passions in hearts for him were stirred
Long ago passions were stirred by similar disturbance
من لم تلدْ مثله أرضٌ ولا ثكلتْ
والأرضُ جِدُّ ولودٍ جدُّ مِثكال
None like him was born of earth, nor did she
Wean one like him; and earth breeds noble breeds
نأى ولم ينأَ نأياً ينطوي أبداً
لزائريهِ بنصٍّ أو بإرقالِ
He kept his distance, but his distance was not
Ever beyond reach; he is there for all who seek
وما أخٌ بقريبٍ حينَ تحجُبُه
نبائثُ الأرضِ في مُنهاله الجالِ
No kinsman finds a relative when he lies buried
Under earth's rubble in his lonely tomb
إذا الثرى قِيدَ نصفَ الرمحِ غيَّبه
فقد هَوى في مهاوٍ ذاتِ أهوالِ
When the earth imprisons half a spear's length down
He plunged into a depth fraught with terrors
حسبُ الخليلين نأي الأرض بينهما
هذا عليها وهذا تحتها بالي
As for the two intimates-earth's breadth severs them
One above it and one below it in his misery
