1. نَعَوكَ بِهِم كانَ النَعيُّ وَلَم تَمُت

    وَلَو مُتَّ ماتَ الظَرفُ أَجمَعَ كُلُّهُ

    They announced your death; the death notice concerned them, and you did not die.

    And had you died, all wit would have died, every bit of it.

  2. وَما اِستَثقَلوا مِن مُدَّةٍ قَد تَكامَلَت

    وَمِن عُمُرٍ لَم يَبقَ إِلّا أَقَلُّهُ

    And what did they find burdensome in a span already complete,

    And in a life of which only the smallest part remains,

  3. عَلى أَنَّ لَهواً لِلصَديقِ يَسُرُّهُ

    وَدَرءً عَلى حَدِّ العَدُوِّ يَفُلُّهُ

    Though diversion for a friend brings him joy,

    And a defense against the enemy’s edge blunts it?

  4. بَقيتَ أَبا العَيناءِ فينا وَلا يَزَل

    لَنا ظِلُّ أُنسٍ في ذَراكَ نَحُلُّهُ

    May you remain among us, Abu al-ʿAynāʾ, and may there always be

    For us a shade of companionship in your shelter, where we dwell.