عَرَفتُ أَديباً فَأَحببته

وَسُرعان ما غابَ هَذا الحَبيب

I knew a man of letters and loved him

But soon this beloved was gone

وَيا لَهفي الآن كَلّمته

وَفي لَحظةٍ باتَ لا يَستَجيب

And now, alas, when I speak to him

In an instant he fails to respond

وَيا حَسرَتي لِلرَدى مَزَّقَت

يَداه رِداءَ الشَباب القَشيب

Oh how I grieve, the days have torn

The cloak of youth from his stooped frame

وَكانَ نَضيراً عَلى منكبيه

فَأَصبَح مِنهُ سَليباً خَضيب

Once sturdy upon his shoulders

Now from him, gray and frail remain

دَعاني البُكاء فَلبّيته

جزوعاً عَلَيهِ بِدَمع صَبيب

Grief called me, and I obeyed

Weeping for him with flowing tears

وَسِرتُ بِموكبه خاشِعاً

أُشيِّعه بَينَ حَفلٍ مُهيب

And I walked in his funeral, humble

Bidding him farewell amidst great fear

تُفيضُ أَكاليلُهُ طيبها

وَدون شَمائله كُلُّ طيب

The wreaths upon him their perfume shed

And near his features, all scents excel

وَعَدت عَن القَبر في العائِدين

أَمامي نَحيبٌ وَخَلفي نَحيب

Then from his grave I turned back

Before me, weeping, and behind as well

وَفي كُل نَفسٍ لَهُ لَوعة

وَفي كُل قَلب عَلَيهِ لَهيب

In every soul, grief remains

In every heart for him, fire does swell

عَرَفت أَديباً حَميد الخِصال

وَأَحبَبتُ فيهِ الذَكيَّ اللَبيب

I knew a man of noble traits

And loved in him, the wise and keen

وَروحاً عَلى القَلب مثل النَسيم

يَهبُّ فَينعش قَلب الكَئيب

A soul like a soft breeze to the heart

That would blow and revive one forlorn

وَكانَ قَريراً بِآماله

فَأَدعو لَهُ اللَه أَلّا تَخيب

He was content with his hopes

I pray to God they do not fail

وَكانَ يَراها بِعَين الأَريب

وَلَكنَّ للدَهر عينَ الرَقيب

He saw them with a doubtful eye

But time has for people, a watchful eye

وَيَكلأها بِالنَشاط العَجيب

وَلِلدَهر في الناس شَأن عَجيب

He pursued them with wondrous zeal

But time has for all, a wondrous way