قُلْتُ وَقَدْ أُبْرِزَتْ بِنَعْشٍ

قُلْتُ وَقَدْ أُبْرِزَتْ بِنَعْشٍ

فَوْقَ رِقَابِ الأَنامِ تَمْشِي

فَوْقَ رِقَابِ الأَنامِ تَمْشِي

I said, as she was brought out on a bier,

I said, as they carried forth a bier

walking above the necks of humankind:

Above the people's heads passing by:

مِنَ البُدُورِ التَّمامِ كانَتْ

مِنَ البُدُورِ التَّمامِ كانَتْ

فَلِمْ غَدَتْ مِنْ بَناتِ نَعْشِ

فَلِمْ غَدَتْ مِنْ بَناتِ نَعْشِ

She had been among the moons in their fullness—

"She was perfection absolute," but why

so why has she become one of Banāt Naʿsh, the Daughters of the Bier?

Is she now on that homeward, sombre bier?