ذَكَرتُ مُحَمَّداً بِقَتلِ مُحَمَّدِ

وَقَحطَبَةً ذِكراً طَويلَ البَلابِلِ

I recalled Muhammad in killing Muhammad,

And Qahtaba, a long recollection of misfortunes,

وَكانَ الأَسى قَد آلَ فيهِ إِلى الحَشا

فَلَمّا اِستَجَرّاهُ جَرى في المَفاصِلِ

And grief had ended up as wont in him,

So when they drew him out, it flowed in the joints,

كَماءِ الغَديرِ اِمتَدَّ بَعدَ وُقوعِهِ

بِما هاجَ مِن فَيضِ التِلاع القَوابِلِ

Like water of ponds spreading after its falling,

With what overflowed from the flood of destinies,

ثَوَوا في الثَرى مِن بَعدِما سُربِلوا العُلا

وَمِن بَعدِما سُمّوا نُجومَ المَحافِلِ

They rested in the dust after they were clad with glory,

And after they were named the stars of assemblies.

مَصارِعُ لَم تورِث شَناراً وَإِنَّها

لَيَرتَعُ فيها شامِتٌ عِندَ جاهِلِ

Their resting places did not leave disgrace, though

A gloating ignorant one grazes there.

لَعَمرُكَ ما كانوا ثَلاثَةَ أُخوَةٍ

وَلَكِنَّهُم كانوا ثَلاثَ قَبائِلِ

By your life! They were not three brothers,

But they were three tribes.