يَا مَنْ يُؤَبِّنُ سَعْداً مَنْ تُؤَبِّنُهُ

هُوَ الْهُدَى وَالنَّدَى وَالبَأْسِ وَالشَّمَمُ

O you who mourn Saad, whom do you mourn?

He is guidance, brilliance, valor and determination.

هَيْهَاتَ تُوصَفُ بِالوَصْفِ الْخَلِيقِ بِهَا

تِلْكَ الْفضَائِلُ وَالآدَابُ وَالشِّيَمُ

Alas! Those virtues and manners cannot be described.

That merit, etiquette and steadfastness.

مَال الْقَوْلُ فِي دَوْحَةٍ فَيَْنَانَةٍ سَقَطَتْ

وَمِنْ أَمَالِيدِهَا الإِحْسَانُ وَالكَرَمُ

No words for a palm tree that has fallen,

Whose benevolence and generosity were exemplary.

كَأَنَّهَا غَيْضَةٌ مَجْمُوعَةٌ نَشِبَتْ

فِيهَا المَنَايَا تُثَنِّهَا وَتَخْتَرِمُ

As if it were a cluster plucked off,

In which glory fades and withers away.

لَكِنَّنِي أَسْتَعينُ الله مُعْتَذِراً

عَنِ القُصُورِ وَبَعْضِ العَجْزِ لا يَصِمُ

Yet I seek God’s help, apologizing

For my shortcoming, though some weakness is incurable.