شفيقٌ مضى والدهر خانك يا مصرُ

وياكَم عليه كان يحسدك الدهرُ

Shafiq has passed away while fate has let you down, O Egypt

And what a source of envy was he for fate

فمنَ بعدَهُ تبغين أن تزدهي بهِ

ويمسى به بين البلادِ لك الفخرُ

So who after him can make you flourish

And at night make you pride amongst the lands

ومَن غيرُه أعددتِه لملمةٍ

إذا ضلت الآراء واضطرب الفكرُ

And who else have you prepared for melding

When opinions go astray and thoughts get perplexed

مضى خيرُ ذخر تتقين به العدا

فلا عجبٌ إن قيل أعْوزَكَ الذخرُ

The best treasure you had for protection against enemies is gone

No wonder it was said you were left without wealth

ولو كنت ممن اسعد الدهرُ حظهُ

لعاش ابن منصور وَتمَّ لك النصرُ

And if you had been one who fate has made fortunate

Ibn Mansour would have lived and your triumph would have been completed

هل بَعد بُعدكَ يا شفيقَ يَروقُ

عيشٌ لصبّ قلبهُ محروقُ

After losing you, O Shafiq, would life taste sweet

To a heart that burns, longing for you

وتشوقهُ الدنيا وأنتَ صددتها

وتميلُ عنه إلى النوى ويطيقُ

The world once attracted him when you were present

But now turns away while his thoughts turn to memories of times past

ها قد سبقتَ إلى مماتِ وإنني

ليلذّ لي شوقاً إليكَ لحوقُ

For you have preceded me in death though

My yearning to join you grows

لا خير بعدَكَ في الحياةِ فإنها

كدرٌ وخالصُ ودذها تلفيقُ

There is no good left in life after you so

It has become unpleasant, false and patched up

وسرورها حزنٌ وخيرُ نعيمها

بؤسٌ وغايةُ جمعها تفريقُ

Its joy is sorrow, the best of its bliss

Misery, and the height of all it offers is separation

ملماتٌ بها حكمُ القضاءُ

وحزنُ ما لمدّتهِ انقضاءُ

It holds afflictions, ruled by the judgment of fate

And sadness with no end

ورزء لا يُطاقُ عليه صبرٌ

ولا يجدي التحسُّرُ والبكاءُ

Misery that cannot be endured patiently

Nor helped by regret and crying

وعيشٌ بَعد أن أودى شفيقٌ

تكدّر واستحال له الصفاءُ

And life after Shafiq has passed away

Has become bitter with its clarity marred

فما لك يا زمانُ بلا تروٍّ

تعاقبنا وما منا اجتراءُ

So why, O time, do you keep alternating with no compassion

Afflicting us though we have done no wrong

قضيتَ بدونَ إشفاقٍ علينا

ويعلم رّبنا أنَّا بَراءُ

You have judged us without mercy

And our Lord knows we are innocent