فقدتُ وما فقدتُ سوى صديقٍ
أعزّ عليّ من نثرى وشعري
I have lost nought save a dear friend,
More precious to me than my verse or prose.
أديبٌ كان كالعسل المصفّى
وأقوى في نهاه من المعرى
A man of letters sweet as purest honey,
His talent stronger than Al-Mutanabbi's.
جنَت دنياه ما شاءت عليه
فجازاها بلحنٍ منه بكر
Whatever worldly goods he wished were his.
He paid no heed to slander or applause.
تأيّم لا تساكنه عروس
فما يسمو إليه أيّ صهر
A bride mourns with no relief in sight,
No brother-in-law to whom her love might turn.
أديبٌ كانت الدنيا لديه
بدائع من زجاجات وخمر
For him the world held lovely gifts galore -
Fine wines and verse in plenty and to spare,
ولحناً من أغاريد القوافي
فقل ما شئت من فن وسحر
A song made up of charming lyrics, so
Say what you will of art and magic there.
صديقي كان وا اسفى عليه
على المفطور من بر وطهر
Gone is my friend and I lament his loss,
His gentleness and virtue bereft from us.
أإبراهيم متّ أجب فإني
أكذب كل يوم ما يقال
Dear Ibrahim is dead but I still cry
Each day against their lies may God forbid
حملت النعش أستوحي لظاه
وأسأل ما المآب وما المآل
I helped carry him though my soul complained
And wondered at his state when life has fled
غريباً متّ في بلد غريب
له في كل معركة صيال
He died a stranger in a foreign land
Yet fought in every battle microseconds did
بمصر دفنت يا روحاً عزيزاً
فريداً لا يقام له مثال
In Egypt you were buried my dear soul
None can compare or take your special role
قد كان صوتك في الهتاف يطربني
ويبعث الشوق في أعماق وجداني
Your voice in song would fill my heart with joy
And stir the ecstasy in my inner core
دكتور يا دكتور دكتور يا دكتور
اسمع ندائي فهذا وحي أشجاني
Doctor, dear doctor, doctor, dear doctor
Hear my call for this is the cry of my adoring
كنا ضيوفاً لديه وهو معتكفٌ
بذلك البيت أو في ذلك الخان
We were your guests as you sat rapt in thought
In that house or in that khan
فتىً كريمٌ طروب الروح منشرح
أكاد أحسبه من بعض ألحاني
Gentle-souled youth, delighted spirit at peace
I could even think you were part of my refrain
