كَأَنَّكَ في أُهَيلِكَ قَد أُتيتا

وَفي الجيرانِ وَيحَكَ قَد نُعيتا

It seems you returned to your family as though

Among the neighbors they announced your death

كَأَنَّكَ كُنتَ بَينَهُم غَريباً

بِكَأسِ المَوتِ صِرفاً قَد سَقيتا

It seems you were a stranger among them

Given a cup of death to drink

أَصبَحتِ المَساكِنُ مِنكَ قَفراً

كَأَنَّكَ لَم تَكُن فيها غَنيتا

The dwellings became desolate without you

As if you never lived in them and sang

كَأَنَّكَ وَالحُتوفُ لَها سِهامٌ

مُفَوَّقَةٌ بِسَهمِكَ قَد رُميتا

It seems you and fate had arrows

Aimed by your fateful arrow and shot

وَإِنَّكَ إِذ خُلِقتَ خُلِقتَ فَرداً

إِلى أَجَلٍ تُجيبُ إِذا دُعيتا

You were created alone

To answer when called by death

إِلى أَجَلٍ تُعَدُّ لَكَ اللَيالي

إِذا وَفَّيتَ عِدَّتَها فَنيتا

To a time when the nights count down for you

When you fulfill that count and pass away

وَكُلُّ فَتىً تُغافِصُهُ المَنايا

وَيُبليهِ الزَمانُ كَما بَليتا

Every youth that death forgives

And time wears down as it wore you down

فَكَم مِن موجَعٍ يَبكيكَ شَجواً

وَمَسرورِ الفُؤادِ بِما لَقيتا

So many weep in agony for you

While those you left rejoice in what you met