حماهُ الكَرى همٌّ سرى فتأوَّبا

فبات يُراعي النجم حتى تَصوَّبا

Secret sorrow has protected it, so it tossed about,

And stayed up watching stars till they were properly aligned.

أعينيَّ جودا لي فقد جُدْتُ للثرى

بأكثرَ مما تَمنعانِ وأطيبا

My eyes, be generous, for I was generous to the earth

With more than you both prevent, and finer.

بُنِيَّ الذي أهديتُهُ أمسِ للثرى

فلِلّهِ ما أقوى قَناتي وأصلَبا

O my son whom I gifted to earth yesterday,

By God, how firm are my eyelids and unyielding!

فإن تمنعاني الدمعَ أرجعْ إلى أسىً

إذا فَتَرتْ عنه الدموعُ تلهَّبا

And if you both prevent my tears I will return to grief

That, when tears slack off, will flare up even more.