مَرَّ الغُرابُ بِشاةٍ

قَد غابَ عَنها الفَطيمُ

The raven passed a ewe whose lamb was lost

She wept while her heart remained resolute

تَقولُ وَالدَمعُ جار

وَالقَلبُ مِنها كَليمُ

“Oh, would that I knew, my son, my only one

Will you remain by my side as I intend?

يا لَيتَ شِعرِيَ يا اِبني

وَواحِدي هَل تَدومُ

“Oh mother of Saad,” he said “this is painful affliction.”

She thought of the morrow while sitting still

وَهَل تَكونُ بِجَنبي

غَداً عَلى ما أَرومُ

Every day has its own troubles enough

And mighty tasks to fulfill

فَقالَ يا أُمَّ سَعدٍ

هَذا عَذابٌ أَليمُ

While he rambled aimlessly

The woeful news arrived miserable and dim

فَكَّرتِ في الغَدِ وَالفِكـ

ـرُ مُقعِدٌ وَمُقيمُ

“I left Saad,” it said “his bones are crushed”

He saw what his noble father had seen

لِكُلِّ يَومٍ خُطوبٌ

تَكفي وَشُغلٌ عَظيمُ

The wise man said to the anxious mother

“A prophet's words are infallible

وَبَينَما هُوَ يَهذي

أَتى النَعِيُّ الذَميمُ

Did I not tell you each day has its sorrows?”

“You speak truly,” she said “but those words are old

يَقولُ خَلَّفتُ سَعداً

وَالعَظمُ مِنهُ هَشيمُ

For my people say the raven bears ill omen.”

رَأى مِنَ الذِئبِ ما قَد

رَأى أَبوهُ الكَريمُ

فَقالَ ذو البَينِ لِلأُمـ

ـمِ حينَ وَلَّت تَهيمُ

إِنَّ الحَكيمَ نَبِيٌّ

لِسانُهُ مَعصومُ

أَلَم أَقُل لَكِ توا

لِكُلِّ يَومٍ هُمومُ

قالَت صَدَقتَ وَلَكِن

هَذا الكَلامُ قَديمُ

فَإِنَّ قَومِيَ قالوا

وَجهُ الغُرابِ مَشومُ