فجعت لفرط فراقك الاخوان

وتأججت بقلوبهم نيران

The brothers were stricken by the anguish of your parting,

and fires blazed within their hearts.

يا زهرة النسرين بللها

الندى يا وردة يا قداح يا ريحان

O eglantine blossom, moistened

by dew; O rose, O orange blossom, O sweet basil.

كالبلبل الجذلان كنت مغردا

تشدو فتطرب حولك الأغصان

Like a joyous nightingale, you were a songster,

singing until the branches around you thrilled.

خل وفي ساكن متواضع

بمكارم وفضائل مزدان

A faithful friend—calm and humble,

adorned with noble qualities and virtues.

خلقا وخلقا كنت فينا

آية كالشمس ليس يعوزها برهان

In both character and form, among us you were

a marvel like the sun, needing no proof.

قد خضت دجلة للوضوء ولم

تكن تدري بما قد قدر الرحمن

You waded into the Tigris for ablution, never

knowing what the All-Merciful had decreed.

فمضيت للباري ضميرك طاهر

وغرقت كيما يطهر الجثمان

Then you went to the Creator, your conscience pure,

and drowned, so that the body might be purified.

فارقت صبحك يا نزيه ولم

يكن يحلو لصحبك منكم الهجران

You left your companions, O Nazih, though

parting from you could never be sweet to them.

في كل قلب من فراقك لوعة

وبكل عين مدمع هتان

In every heart, the anguish of losing you;

and from every eye, tears pour down.

ماشيعوك وإنما قد شيعوا

فيك النزاهة أيها الإنسان

They did not escort you; rather, what they escorted

in you was integrity itself, O man.

والتف صحبك حول نعشك مثلما

تلتف حول المقلة الأجفان

Your companions gathered around your bier, just as

eyelids gather around the eye.

كل ينادي يا نزيه فلم تجب

أحدا وكلك منطق ولسان

Each one called, “O Nazih!”—but you answered

no one, though your whole being was speech and tongue.

وسكنت تنظر للوفاء مجسما

من إخوة أيام كنت وكانوا

And you lay still, awaiting loyalty embodied

from brothers—for years, you had been with them and they with you.

يا راحلا عنا ولست براحل

القلب قبرك صار والوجدان

O you who have departed from us, yet are not departed:

the heart and soul have become your grave.

أنت المنزه عن عيوب لم يكن

عن مثلها يتنزه الشبان

You are unsullied by faults from whose like

young men do not keep themselves free.

صف الصلاة به مكانك فارغ

تبدو عليه ضراعة وحنان

In the prayer row, your place stands empty;

upon it, humble supplication and tenderness appear.

وتساءل المحراب عنك وعهده

يعلو به لدعائك الأرنان

The prayer niche asks after you, remembering when

the echoes of your supplications rose within it.

والثانوية لا يكف نحيبها

حزنا عليك ويصرخ النعمان

The secondary school’s lament does not cease,

in grief for you, while al-Nu‘man cries out.