لهفي على نافعٍ لو كان ينفعه

لهفي وهيهات ما في الموت نفّاع

I yearn for one whose welfare would comfort me,

I pine in vain - no solace comes from death.

قد شيّعوه إلى قبر يحفّ به

مِن المهابة اتباعٌ واشياعٌ

They bore him to a grave encircled by

A following of awe and leave-taking.

حوتْه أوطانُه في جوفها فغدا

كأنما هو قلب وهي أضلاعُ

His native land enfolded him within -

As though he were the heart and it the ribs.

يا موطناً في ثراه غاب سادته

لو كان يخجل من باعوك ما باعوا

O homeland! Your great ones in your earth are gone.

Had shame deterred, they never would have sold.