وَلَقِيتُ عَنْتَرَ إذْ مُنِيتُ بِفاصِدٍ

وَلَقِيتُ عَنْتَرَ إذْ مُنِيتُ بِفاصِدٍ

ذِي رِيشَةٍ سَقَطَتْ عليَّ كَيذْبُلِ

ذِي رِيشَةٍ سَقَطَتْ عليَّ كَيذْبُلِ

And I met Antar when I was afflicted with a bloodletter,

I met Antara as I wandered with a stricken heart,

whose lancet fell upon me like Mount Yadhbul.

Like a withered flower, dropped from its stem.

وَلَوْ اهتَدَى لِلعِرْقِ لَمْ يَقنَعْ بهِ

وَلَوْ اهتَدَى لِلعِرْقِ لَمْ يَقنَعْ بهِ

إذْ كانَ لا يُرضِيهِ غَيرُ المَقْتَلِ

إذْ كانَ لا يُرضِيهِ غَيرُ المَقْتَلِ

And even had he found the vein, he would not have been content with it,

Had he but followed the path of reason, he'd not be satisfied

for nothing but a vital spot would satisfy him.

With aught but death, for no lesser fate would do.