أُصيبَت تَميمٌ يَومَ خَلّى مَكانَهُ

أُصيبَت تَميمٌ يَومَ خَلّى مَكانَهُ

وَمَرَّت لَهُم بِالنَحسِ طَيرٌ بَوارِحُ

وَمَرَّت لَهُم بِالنَحسِ طَيرٌ بَوارِحُ

Tamim was stricken the day he left his place vacant,

Tamim was struck when he left his place,

And birds of ill omen flew by, bringing them misfortune.

And ill omens passed by them, the birds of prey,

وَما كانَ وَقّافاً إِذا اِشتَجَرَ القَنا

وَما كانَ وَقّافاً إِذا اِشتَجَرَ القَنا

وَلاحَت بِأَيدي المُصلَتَينَ الصَفايِحُ

وَلاحَت بِأَيدي المُصلَتَينَ الصَفايِحُ

And he never held back when the spears crossed,

He was no coward when the battle was inflamed,

And broad blades flashed in the sword-wielders’ hands.

And the swords flashed in the hands of the two armies,

فَلِلَّهِ هَذا الدَهرُ كَيفَ أَصابَنا

فَلِلَّهِ هَذا الدَهرُ كَيفَ أَصابَنا

بِمَرزِئَةٍ تَبيَضُّ مِنها المَسايِحُ

بِمَرزِئَةٍ تَبيَضُّ مِنها المَسايِحُ

So, by God, how this age has struck us

By God, how time has afflicted us

With a grievous loss that turns locks of hair white.

With a tragedy that makes the tents turn white.