أَبَعْدَ مُصَابِ الأُمِّ آلَفُ مَضْجَعَاً

وَآوِي إِلَى خَفْضٍ مِنْ العَيْشِ أَو ظِلِّ

After the affliction that befell my mother, I sought refuge in a simpler life,

Her grave will suckle my eyes with her tears,

سَتُرْضِعُ عَيْنِي قَبْرَهَا مِنْ دُمُوعِهَا

بِمَا كُلِّفَتْهُ مِنْ رَضَاعِي وَمِنْ حَمْلِي

For the milk and pregnancy with which she was burdened for me,

I swear, had you seen me at her death,

فَأُقْسِمُ لَوْ أَبْصَرْتَنِي عِنْدَ مَوْتِهَا

وَعَيْنِي تَسُحُّ الدَّمْعَ سَجْلاً عَلَى سَجْلِ

My eyes pouring tears in streams upon streams,

You would have lamented a branch that weeps over its root,

رَثَيْتَ نَصْلٍ يَأْخُذُ المَوْتُ جَفْنَهُ

وَأُعْجِبْتَ مِنْ فَرْعٍ يَنُوحُ عَلَى أَصْلِ

And marveled at a twig grieving after its trunk,

He makes light of my agony, but it is no simple thing,

يُهَوِّنُ مِنْ وَجْدِي وَلَيْسَ بِهَيِّنٍ

سَلاَمَتُهَا بِالْمَوْتِ مِنْ جُرْعَةِ الثُّكْلِ

Her salvation through death from a draught of bereavement,

I should have gone before her,

وَكَانَ عَلَيْهَا اَنْ أُقَدَّمُ قَبْلَهَا

أَشَّدَّ وَأَدْهَى مِنْ تَقَدُّمِهَا قَبْلِي

More painful and grievous than her going before me,

So she was ransomed from her sorrow through me and my regret,

فَقَدْ فُدِيَتْ مِنْ غَمِّهَا بِي بِحَسْرَتِي

عَلَيْهَا وَفِيْمَا بِيْنَ ذَلِكَ مَا يُسْلِي

For her, and in all of that is my consolation.