1. فقدتُ وما فقدتُ سوى صديقٍ

    أعزّ عليّ من نثرى وشعري

    I have lost—and lost nothing but a friend,

    Dearer to me than my prose and poetry.

  2. أديبٌ كان كالعسل المصفّى

    وأقوى في نهاه من المعرى

    A man of letters who was like purified honey,

    And stronger in intellect than al-Ma'arri.

  3. جنَت دنياه ما شاءت عليه

    فجازاها بلحنٍ منه بكر

    His world wronged him however it wished,

    So he repaid it with a virgin melody of his own.

  4. تأيّم لا تساكنه عروس

    فما يسمو إليه أيّ صهر

    He lived without a wife; no bride shared his dwelling,

    So no in-law could rise to his level.

  5. أديبٌ كانت الدنيا لديه

    بدائع من زجاجات وخمر

    A man of letters, for whom the world was

    Marvels of bottles and wine,

  6. ولحناً من أغاريد القوافي

    فقل ما شئت من فن وسحر

    And a melody from the songs of rhyme—

    So say what you will of art and magic.

  7. صديقي كان وا اسفى عليه

    على المفطور من بر وطهر

    He was my friend—oh, my sorrow for him,

    For one fashioned from goodness and purity.

  8. أإبراهيم متّ أجب فإني

    أكذب كل يوم ما يقال

    Ibrahim, have you died? Answer, for I

    Disbelieve each day what is said.

  9. حملت النعش أستوحي لظاه

    وأسأل ما المآب وما المآل

    I carried the bier, seeking inspiration from its blaze,

    And I ask: what is the place of return, and what the final fate?

  10. غريباً متّ في بلد غريب

    له في كل معركة صيال

    A stranger, you died in a foreign land,

    A land that charges in every battle.

  11. بمصر دفنت يا روحاً عزيزاً

    فريداً لا يقام له مثال

    You were buried in Egypt, O cherished soul,

    Peerless, with no equal to be found.

  12. قد كان صوتك في الهتاف يطربني

    ويبعث الشوق في أعماق وجداني

    Indeed, your voice calling out used to enrapture me,

    And awaken longing in the depths of my heart.

  13. دكتور يا دكتور دكتور يا دكتور

    اسمع ندائي فهذا وحي أشجاني

    Doctor, O Doctor! Doctor, O Doctor!

    Hear my call, for this is the inspiration of my sorrows.

  14. كنا ضيوفاً لديه وهو معتكفٌ

    بذلك البيت أو في ذلك الخان

    We were his guests while he was in retreat,

    In that house, or in that inn.

  15. فتىً كريمٌ طروب الروح منشرح

    أكاد أحسبه من بعض ألحاني

    A generous youth, joyous in spirit, cheerful,

    I almost think him one of my melodies.