سَلوا مَعشَرَ المَوتى الَّذي جاءَ وافِداً

إِلَيكُم يَخبَر فَهوَ أَقرَبُكُم عَهدا

Ask those who died before and came to you as guests,

For he is closer in time, he'll tell you true,

يُحَدِّثُكُم أَنَّ البِلادَ مُقيمَةٌ

عَلى ما عَهِدتُم ذَلِكَ الهَضبَ وَالوَهدا

That the countries are still the same,

As you knew them, hills and valleys,

وَلَم تَفتاءِ الدُنِّيا تَغُرُّ خَليلِها

وَتُبَدِّلُهُ مِن غَمضِ أَجفانِها سَهَدا

The world and its ways still enchant its lover,

She hides her sleepy eyes and entrances with a look,

تُريهُ الدُجى في هَيئَةِ النورِ خِدعَةً

وَتُطعِمُهُ صاباً فَيَحسِبُهُ شَهَدا

Shows him darkness in guise of light, deception!

Feeds him poison but makes him think it honey sweet,

وَقَد حَمَلَتهُ فَوقَ نَعشٍ وَطالَما

سَرى فَوقَ عَنسٍ أَو عَلا فَرَساً نَهِدا

She carries him high on a bier though often,

He rode a steed or a carriage, head held high,

وَلَم تَتَّرِك مِن حيلَةٍ لِتَغُرُّهُ

وَلم يُبقِ في إِخلاصِهِ حُبُّها جُهدا

She left no trick to ensnare him,

Of loving her, she left him no effort to make.