قضَى الْخَطِيبُ الَّذِي كَانَتْ فَصَاحَتُهُ

حَالاً فَحَالاً هِيَ الآلاَءُ وَالنقَمُ

The orator whose eloquence

Was at times a blessing, at others a curse, has passed away.

حَدِّثْ عَنْ الْبَلْسَمِ الشَّافِي يُمَرُّ بِهِ

عَلَى الْجِرَاحِ قَدْ اسْتَشْرَتْ فَتَلتَئِمُ

Speak of the healing balm

That is applied to wounds until they mend.

حَدِّثْ عَنِ البُلْبُلِ الْغِرِّيدِ مُخْتَلِفاً

بَيْنَ الأَفَانِينِ مِنْ تَطْرِيبِهِ النَّغمُ

Speak of the warbling bulbul,

Trilling amongst the branches, its tunes so sweet.

حَدِّثْ عَنِ الضَّيْغَمِ السَّاجِي يَثُورُ بِهِ

تَحَرُّشٌ بِحِمَى الأَشْبَالِ لا الْقَرَمُ

Speak of the raging flood,

Not the fever of youth, but of mountain streams in spate.

حَدِّثْ عَنِ السَّيْلِ يَجْرِي وَهْوَ مُصْطَخِبٌ

حَدِّثْ عَنِ النَّارِ تَعْلُو وَهْيَ تَحْتَدِمُ

Speak of the torrent rushing, foaming in its course.

Speak of the flames leaping, crackling as they spread.

حَدِّثْ عَنِ الْبَحْرِ وَالأَرْوَاحِ عَاصِفَةٌ

وَالسُّحْبُ عَازِفَةٌ وَالْفُلْكِ تَرْتَطِمُ

Speak of the ocean, the winds raging,

The clouds performing, the ship dashed apart.