أَهَكَذا دَوحةُ العَلياء تَنقصِفُ

وَهَكَذا الشَمسُ في الآفاقِ تنكسِفُ

Is this how the proud palm tree sheds its leaves

And how the sun is eclipsed in the horizons?

وَهَكَذا ظُبَةُ الماضي تُفلُّ شَباً

من بعد ما زانَها الإمضاءُ والرَهفُ

Is this how the gazelles of the past grow old

After elegance and tenderness adorned them?

وَهَكَذا بهجةُ العليا وَنضرَتها

يزري بمُشرقِها الإظلامُ والسَدَفُ

Is this how the joy and radiance of the lofty one

Is shaded by darkness and gloomy clouds?

وَهَكَذا دُرَّةُ المجد الأثيل غَدَتِ

يضمُّها بعدَ حُسنٍ الحليةِ الصَدفُ

Is this how the pearl of eternal glory

Is held, after beauty, by an oyster shell?

لِلَّه أَيَّةُ روحٍ فارقَت جَسَداً

وأَيُّ جثمانِ عزٍّ ضمَّه جَدَفُ

What soul has left what glorious body

And what corpse has the shovel covered?

يا قُرَّةً لعيونِ المجد قد سَخنَت

بَكى لَها الأَشرَفان المَجدُ والشرفُ

O delight of the eyes of glory, you have departed,

And the noblest shed tears for you, glory and honor.