أَطَاشَ حِلْمَ الْحَلِيمِ

مُصَابُ عَبْدِ الْحَلِيمِ

The patience of the forbearing cracked

Stricken is the servant of the Forbearing

كَأَنَّ دَهْراً رَمَاهُ

رَمَى الْعُلَى فِي الصَّمِيمِ

As if fate had struck him down

Struck the exalted one in his innermost being

لُبْنَانُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الرَّزْ

ءِ حِدَادٍ عَمِيمِ

Lebanon for that calamity is clothed

In all-encompassing mourning

عَلَى فَتىً كانَ يُرجَى

فِيهِ لِشَأْنٍ عَظِيمِ

For a young man in whom was hoped

Great things for some noble aim

يُصَرِّفُ الأمْر بِالحَزْ

مِ وَالضَّمِيرِ الْقَوِيمِ

Who governed affairs with determination and an upright conscience

And Baalbek suffers the agonies

وَ بَعْلَبكُّ تُعَانِي

آلامَ خَطْبٍ جَسِيمِ

Of a grave misfortune

In the best of those she has known

فِي خَيْرِ مَنْ خَبَرَتْهُ

مِنْ حَاكِمٍ وَحَكِيمِ

Ruler or wise man

He led the lands with resolved intent

سَاسَ الدِّيَارَ بِعَزْمٍ

مَاضٍ وَقَلْبٍ رَحِيمِ

And a compassionate heart

And was a bountiful rain and rescue

وَكَانَ غَيْثاً وَغَوْثاً

لِلْمُعْتَفِي وَالْهَضِيمِ

For the downtrodden and oppressed

I knew him as the most brilliant

عرَفْتُهُ أَلْمَعِيَّا

فِي نَثْرِهِ والنَّظِيمِ

In his prose and verse

Fertile gardens far from

خِصْبَ الْجَنَانِ بَعِيداً

عَنِ الْجُمُودِ الْعَقِيمِ

Sterile stagnation

Molding with the skill of a literary man

يَصُوغُ صَوْغَ أَدِيبٍ

وَالْفِكْرُ فِكْرُ عَلِيمِ

And the thought of a learned scholar

What can I say about his refined

مَاذَا أُحَدِّثُ عَنْ ذَوْ

قِهِ الرَّفِيعِ السَّلِيمِ

And pure nature

And the sincerity of his affection and pact

وصِدْقِ وُدٍّ وَعَهْدٍ

يَشِفُّ عَنْ طَهْرِ خِيمِ

That reveals the purity of his character

And dignity like mountains

وَعِزةٍ كَالرَّوَاسِي

وَرِقَّةٍ كَالنَّسِيمِ

And gentleness like a breeze

And virtuous qualities

وَطَاهِرَاتِ سَجَايَا

خُلِقْنَ لِلتَّكْرِيمِ

Created for glory

My heart refuses consolation

يَأْبَى الُّسلُوَّ فُؤادِي

بَعْدَ الصَّدِيقِ الْحَمِيمِ

After the intimate friend

What ails every kin

مَا بَالُ كُلِّ قَرِيبٍ

لَهُ وَكُلِّ لَزِيمِ

And companion of his

God watch over your home

أللهُ جَارُكَ يَمِّمْ

دَارَ الصَّفَاءِ المُقِيمِ

In the lasting abode of purity

Happy are those who receive

مَنْ أَسْعَدَ النَّاسِ لاقَى

جَزَاءهُ فِي النَّعِيمِ

Their reward in bliss