1. أَبى طولُ لَيلِيَ لا أَهجَعُ

    وَقَد عالَني الخَبَرُ الأَشنَعُ

    My long night denies me sleep.

    And the most dreadful news has overwhelmed me.

  2. نَعِيُّ اِبنِ عَمروٍ أَتى موهِناً

    قَتيلاً فَما لِيَ لا أَجزَعُ

    News of the death of ‘Amr’s son came after nightfall:

    he had been slain—how could I not grieve?

  3. وَفَجَّعَني رَيبُ هَذا الزَمانِ

    بِهِ وَالمَصائِبُ قَد تُفجِعُ

    And the vicissitudes of this age have bereaved me

    of him—and calamities can bring grief.

  4. فَمِثلُ حَبيبِيَ أَبكى العُيونَ

    وَأَوجَعَ مَن كانَ لا يوجَعُ

    For one like my beloved has made eyes weep,

    and pained those who had known no pain.

  5. أَخٌ لِيَ لا يَشتَكيهِ الرَفيقُ

    وَلا الرَكبُ في الحاجَةِ الجُوَّعُ

    A brother of mine, of whom no companion complains,

    nor the hungry riders in need.

  6. وَيَهتَزُّ في الحَربِ عِندَ النِزالِ

    كَما اِهتَزَّ ذو الرَونَقِ المِقطَعُ

    And he quivers in war when combat is joined,

    as the gleaming, keen-cutting sword quivers.

  7. فَما لي وَلِلدَهرِ ذي النائِباتِ

    أَكُلُّ الوُزوعِ بِنا توزَعُ

    So what have I to do with Time, with its calamities?

    Are you utterly fixated on us?