قد خططنا للمعالي مضجعا

قد خططنا للمعالي مضجعا

ودفنا الدينَ والدنيا معا

ودفنا الدينَ والدنيا معا

We have marked out a resting-place for lofty virtues,

We had lofty aspirations laid out,

and buried religion and the world together.

And buried both religion and worldliness together.

وعقدنا للمساعي مأتماً

وعقدنا للمساعي مأتماً

ونعينا الفخرَ فيه أجمعا

ونعينا الفخرَ فيه أجمعا

We have held a mourning assembly for noble endeavors,

And held bereavement rites for endeavors,

and there mourned glory in its entirety.

And collectively mourned the loss of pride.

آه ماذا وارت الأرضُ التي

آه ماذا وارت الأرضُ التي

رمقُ العالم فيها أُودعا

رمقُ العالم فيها أُودعا

Ah, what has the earth concealed, wherein

Oh, what has the earth, which

the world's last breath was laid to rest!

The glance of the world was deposited in, buried?

وارت الشخصَ الذي في حمله

وارت الشخصَ الذي في حمله

نحنُ والأملاكُ سرنا شرعا

نحنُ والأملاكُ سرنا شرعا

It concealed the man in carrying whom

And what person, who in his struggle

we and the angels walked side by side.

We and the angels walked together uprightly, buried?

صاحب النعش الذي قد رُفعت

صاحب النعش الذي قد رُفعت

بركاتُ الأرضِ لمَّا رفعا

بركاتُ الأرضِ لمَّا رفعا

The bier's occupant, with whom were raised

The coffin, which blessings of the earth were raised for when it was raised,

the earth's blessings when he was lifted.

Of a king alive and dead, whose fate refused anything but the highest courtyard.

ملكٌ حيًّا وميتاً قد أبى

ملكٌ حيًّا وميتاً قد أبى

قدرُه إلاَّ الرواقَ الأرفعا

قدرُه إلاَّ الرواقَ الأرفعا

A king in life and death, whose stature refused

If you ask how he competed with that zeal,

all but the loftiest portico.

In which he contended with the fierce lion in its den.

إن تسلني كيف من ذاك الحمى

إن تسلني كيف من ذاك الحمى

فيه زاحمنَ العرينَ المسبعا

فيه زاحمنَ العرينَ المسبعا

If you ask me how, from that sanctuary,

Through it he brought his cub closer,

they crowded its den abounding in lions:

The lion of God, alive and responsive to the call.

فبه أدنى إليه شبله

فبه أدنى إليه شبله

أسدَ الله وحيًّا ودعا

أسدَ الله وحيًّا ودعا

there his cub brought close to himself

So we asked her, though her eyes were shedding tears

the Lion of God, and greeted him and prayed.

And she was calling them "teardrops".

فأسلناها على إنسانها

فأسلناها على إنسانها

حدقاً وهي تسمّى أدمعا

حدقاً وهي تسمّى أدمعا

So we poured them over their very pupil—

And we wet the soil of the grave they buried

eyeballs, though they are called tears.

The pious and devout man in.

وبللنا تربة القبر الذي

وبللنا تربة القبر الذي

دفنوا فيه التقى والورعا

دفنوا فيه التقى والورعا

And we moistened the soil of the grave in which

And we uncovered it violently, rock upon rock,

they buried piety and scrupulousness.

Falling upon it in pieces.

وعقرناها حشاً فوق حشاً

وعقرناها حشاً فوق حشاً

يتساقطن عليه قطعا

يتساقطن عليه قطعا

And we slaughtered them, entrails upon entrails,

And we sprinkled it, but with entrails,

falling upon him in pieces.

Which ardent passion made with it as it made.

ونضحناها ولكن مهجاً

ونضحناها ولكن مهجاً

صنع الوجدُ بها ما صنعا

صنع الوجدُ بها ما صنعا

And we sprinkled them—but they were lifeblood,

So for what do we brace ourselves?

upon which grief had worked its work.

The sayer lied, “My heart has returned.”

فعلى ماذا نشدُّ الأضلعا

فعلى ماذا نشدُّ الأضلعا

كذبَ القائلُ قلبي رجعا

كذبَ القائلُ قلبي رجعا

So around what do we tighten our ribs?

And we undid the knot of patience in agony,

The man who said 'My heart returned' lied.

And strained against ardent passion.

وحللنا عقدة الصبر أسًى

وحللنا عقدة الصبر أسًى

وعلى الوجد شددنا الأضلعا

وعلى الوجد شددنا الأضلعا

In sorrow we loosened patience's knot,

And we returned without returning, and nothing remains for us

and tightened our ribs around grief.

Except a glance restraining what did not return.

ورجعنا لا رجعنا وبنا

ورجعنا لا رجعنا وبنا

رمقٌ ممسكه ما رجعا

رمقٌ ممسكه ما رجعا

And we returned—would that we had not—with

Oh son of my friend, I have a blazing fire

a remnant of life whose sustainer did not return.

That fills my chest however much it expanded.

يا ابن ودّي إنَّ عندي فورةً

يا ابن ودّي إنَّ عندي فورةً

تملأ الجنبين كيف اتَّسعا

تملأ الجنبين كيف اتَّسعا

O son of my affection, I have a surge

So to Mecca, for in it lies

that fills both sides, however wide they grow.

The society of the Living, Comforter of all.

فإلى مكَّة لي إنَّ بها

فإلى مكَّة لي إنَّ بها

مندى الحيِّ المعزّي أجمعا

مندى الحيِّ المعزّي أجمعا

Then go to Mecca for me, for there

Head to it and rely on its open plain,

is the gathering-place of the whole bereaved clan.

It used to be the gathering place of nobility.

ابتدرها واعتمد بطحاءها

ابتدرها واعتمد بطحاءها

إنَّها كانت لفهرٍ مجمعا

إنَّها كانت لفهرٍ مجمعا

Hasten there and seek its gravelly plain;

Stand in it and forbid all of Quraysh,

it was Fihr's gathering-place.

For Quraysh today has died altogether.

قفْ بها وانعَ قريشاً كلَّها

قفْ بها وانعَ قريشاً كلَّها

فقريشُ اليوم قد ماتوا معا

فقريشُ اليوم قد ماتوا معا

Stand there and mourn all Quraysh,

And with the water of Sheba’s praise, take

for today Quraysh have all died together.

A drink that shatters the ribs within you.

وتعمَّد شيبة الحمدِ وخذْ

وتعمَّد شيبة الحمدِ وخذْ

نفثةً تحطمُ منها الأضلعا

نفثةً تحطمُ منها الأضلعا

Seek out Shaybat al-Hamd, and take

Tell him that if he died a painful death before,

a breath that shatters the ribs.

Then he has died now at the mourning of bereavement.

قلْ له إن متَّ قدماً وجعاً

قلْ له إن متَّ قدماً وجعاً

فمت الآن بنعيٍ جزعا

فمت الآن بنعيٍ جزعا

Tell him: if long ago you died in pain,

A slamming misfortune cracked your egg,

then die now in anguish at these death-tidings.

The heart of revelation split open against it.

صدعت بيضتكم قارعةٌ

صدعت بيضتكم قارعةٌ

كبدُ الوحيِ عليها انصدعا

كبدُ الوحيِ عليها انصدعا

A calamity has shattered your stronghold,

The coat of armour of Hashimites, which

at which the heart of revelation was rent.

My cloak deemed sufficient to be armoured, vanished.

زالَ درعُ الهاشميين الذي

زالَ درعُ الهاشميين الذي

بردائيْ حسبيه ادَّرعا

بردائيْ حسبيه ادَّرعا

Gone is the Hashimites' shield, who

And the glory of all Nizar folded up

armored himself in the twin mantles of his two distinctions.

At an affliction that commanded it to submit.

وانطوى عزُّ نزار كلّها

وانطوى عزُّ نزار كلّها

بمصابٍ سامها أن تخضعا

بمصابٍ سامها أن تخضعا

And the glory of all Nizar was folded away

Today I have not lost except a mountain

by a calamity that forced her to bow.

To which the frightened would resort for refuge.

ما فقدتُ اليوم إلاَّ جبلاً

ما فقدتُ اليوم إلاَّ جبلاً

نحوه يلجأ من قد روِّعا

نحوه يلجأ من قد روِّعا

What have I lost today but a mountain

It had been firmly rooted for a time but against

toward which the terrified seek refuge?

The chests of enemies, then was uprooted.

كانَ أرسى زمناً لكن على

كانَ أرسى زمناً لكن على

مهج الأعداء ثم اقتلعا

مهج الأعداء ثم اقتلعا

For a time he stood rooted, but upon

The hands of doom brandished their swords

the hearts of his enemies; then he was uprooted.

So the endless flow of time sought refuge from it in fright.

شهرت أيدي المنايا سيفها

شهرت أيدي المنايا سيفها

فاستعاذَ الدهرُ منها فزعا

فاستعاذَ الدهرُ منها فزعا

The hands of death unsheathed their sword,

And it protected its nose in its palm,

and Time sought refuge from them in terror,

Yet the palm-less protected the hand-less!

وحمى عن أنفه في كفِّه

وحمى عن أنفه في كفِّه

فإذا الأقطعُ يحمي الأجدعا

فإذا الأقطعُ يحمي الأجدعا

and defended his nose with his palm—

Deafening the hearing of guidance, a slamming

behold, the handless shielding the noseless!

Never to be slammed against its like before.

قرعت سمعَ الهُدى واعيةٌ

قرعت سمعَ الهُدى واعيةٌ

أبداً في مثلها ما قُرعا

أبداً في مثلها ما قُرعا

A mourning cry struck the hearing of guidance,

If an eye had seen what no eye witnessed,

as nothing like it had ever struck before.

It would have seen our eyes with Gabriel crying blood.

لو رأت ما غاب عينٌ لرأت

لو رأت ما غاب عينٌ لرأت

عيننا جبريلَ يُدمي الإصبعا

عيننا جبريلَ يُدمي الإصبعا

If an eye could see the unseen,

Saying, “It is enough, stop grieving over Hashim,

our eye would see Gabriel making his finger bleed,

And head up the hill, hastening.”

قائلاً حسبُك ملْ عن هاشمٍ

قائلاً حسبُك ملْ عن هاشمٍ

وعلى الفيحاءِ عرِّج مسرعا

وعلى الفيحاءِ عرِّج مسرعا

saying: Enough! Turn away from Hashim,

It is the association of the Exalted which

and turn toward al-Fayha with haste.

Contained that most inaccessible and unassailable being.

إنَّها منعقدُ النادي الذي

إنَّها منعقدُ النادي الذي

قد حوى ذاك الجناب الأمنعا

قد حوى ذاك الجناب الأمنعا

It is the meeting-place of the assembly that

Stand in it with the stance of a consoler, restraining

held that most inviolable presence.

A liver that fell in a severed palm.

قفْ بها وقفة عانٍ ممسكاً

قفْ بها وقفة عانٍ ممسكاً

كبداً طاحت بكفٍّ قطعا

كبداً طاحت بكفٍّ قطعا

Stand there as a captive stands, holding

Harness the camel of ardour and say

a liver fallen in pieces into a palm.

You are not, O camel, that camel.

وأنخ راحلة الوجد وقل

وأنخ راحلة الوجد وقل

لستِ يا أربعُ تلك الأربعا

لستِ يا أربعُ تلك الأربعا

Make grief's mount kneel, and say:

But rather you were protection over time

You are not, O dwellings, those former dwellings.

In which the nights found no covetousness.

إنَّما كنت على الدهر حمًى

إنَّما كنت على الدهر حمًى

لم تجدْ فيك الليالي مطمعا

لم تجدْ فيك الليالي مطمعا

You were indeed a sanctuary against Time;

In you, the guidance was revived

the nights found no opportunity within you.

By the Possessor, who caused deviance to die.

بعليم فيك قد أحيا الهدى

بعليم فيك قد أحيا الهدى

ومليكٍ قد أماتَ البدعا

ومليكٍ قد أماتَ البدعا

Through a learned man within you who revived guidance,

So blindness and injustice parted from you

and a sovereign who put religious innovations to death,

While justice and equity gathered in you.

فالعمى والجورُ عنك افترقا

فالعمى والجورُ عنك افترقا

والجدا والعدل فيك اجتمعا

والجدا والعدل فيك اجتمعا

blindness and oppression parted from you,

With the Father of Righteousness if the world went astray

while bounty and justice came together in you.

And my brother of splendour if the caller called.

بأبِ الرشد إذا ضلَّ الورى

بأبِ الرشد إذا ضلَّ الورى

وأخي الجلّى إذا الداعي دعا

وأخي الجلّى إذا الداعي دعا

Through the father of right guidance when mankind strayed,

By my life, worries have overwhelmed the one

and the brother of great ordeals when the caller called.

Who was most eloquent of speech among the eloquent.

قد لعمري راعك الخطبُ بمن

قد لعمري راعك الخطبُ بمن

كانَ في الخطبِ الكميَّ الأروعا

كانَ في الخطبِ الكميَّ الأروعا

Indeed, by my life, calamity terrified you through one

His mourner's earnestness made us say “jester!”

who, in calamity, was the most splendid armored champion.

Not knowing the essence of the one he was mourning.

جدَّ ناعيه فقلنا هازلٌ

جدَّ ناعيه فقلنا هازلٌ

ليس يدري كنه مَن كانَ نعى

ليس يدري كنه مَن كانَ نعى

His death-announcer was earnest; we said: A jester!

So when the appeal refused the one

He does not know the true worth of the man he mourns.

Whose intestines burst from it in agony,

فدعا لمَّا أبى تلك التي

فدعا لمَّا أبى تلك التي

طارت الأحشاء منها جزعا

طارت الأحشاء منها جزعا

Then, when he would not yield, he uttered that cry

The rain had cried for its brother before you

that made the entrails fly apart in anguish:

So wring out your livers with tears.

قد بكى الغيثُ أخاهُ قبلكم

قد بكى الغيثُ أخاهُ قبلكم

فانضحوا الأكبادَ منكم أدمعا

فانضحوا الأكبادَ منكم أدمعا

The rain has wept for its brother before you;

Al-Sadiq Jaʿfar has departed from you

so shed your livers as tears.

And with him Islam was forcibly anguished.

رحلَ الصادقُ منكم جعفرٌ

رحلَ الصادقُ منكم جعفرٌ

وبه الإِسلامُ قسراً فُجعا

وبه الإِسلامُ قسراً فُجعا

Ja'far, the truthful one, has departed from you,

So to where? Is there a course

and Islam has been forcibly bereaved of him.

They have endured, never to cool?

فإلى أينَ وهل من مذهبٍ

فإلى أينَ وهل من مذهبٍ

كابدوها غلَّةً لن تنقعا

كابدوها غلَّةً لن تنقعا

Where, then, can you go? Is there any escape?

Oh Abu Musa, perk up your hearing for me

Endure it—a burning thirst that will never be quenched.

And force yourself today not to hear.

يا أبا موسى أصخ لي سامعاً

يا أبا موسى أصخ لي سامعاً

وبرغمي اليوم أن لا تسمعا

وبرغمي اليوم أن لا تسمعا

O Abu Musa, lend me your ear and listen,

Rather, it suffices me in agony to see

though, against my wish, today you do not hear.

Death has emptied this place of you.

بل كفاني لوعةً أنِّي أرى

بل كفاني لوعةً أنِّي أرى

منك أخلى الموتُ هذا الموضعا

منك أخلى الموتُ هذا الموضعا

It is anguish enough that I see

Or do you not have in the Exalted’s association

death has emptied this place of you.

Whose rhymes you never stopped making harmonious?

أوَما عندك في نادي العُلى

أوَما عندك في نادي العُلى

لم تزل تحلو القوافي موقعا

لم تزل تحلو القوافي موقعا

Was it not in your presence, in the assembly of eminence,

Where is that face I greeted

that the rhymes were always sweet in their cadence?

With the wit of praise, radiating nothing but light?

أين ذاكَ الوجهُ ما حيّيته

أين ذاكَ الوجهُ ما حيّيته

بطريف المدح إلاَّ التمعا

بطريف المدح إلاَّ التمعا

Where is that face? Never did I greet it

Where is that palm from which generosity dripped

with fresh praise without its shining.

Whenever the living being was miserly or prevented?

أينَ ذاكَ الكفُّ تندى كرماً

أينَ ذاكَ الكفُّ تندى كرماً

كلَّما جفَّ الحيا أو منعا

كلَّما جفَّ الحيا أو منعا

Where is that hand, moist with generosity

So sink your fangs into it together.

whenever the rain dried up or was withheld?

The protector who praises you has died, O twitterer,

هاكِ يا أفعى الليالي كبدي

هاكِ يا أفعى الليالي كبدي

فانهشي منها بنابيْك معا

فانهشي منها بنابيْك معا

Take my liver, O viper of the nights,

Dripping lethal poison like tears that smear.

and bite into it with both your fangs together.

Shudder, O earth, for us,

ماتَ من يثنيك يا نضناضةً

ماتَ من يثنيك يا نضناضةً

ترشحين الموت سمًّا منقعا

ترشحين الموت سمًّا منقعا

He who restrained you has died, O tongue-flickering snake,

For the clouds of generosity have uncovered us.

you who ooze death as potent poison.

And the fringes of glory diminished, passing away,

واقشعرِّي أيُّها الأرضُ بنا

واقشعرِّي أيُّها الأرضُ بنا

فغمامُ الجودِ عنَّا انقشعا

فغمامُ الجودِ عنَّا انقشعا

And shudder beneath us, O earth,

For the pillar of glory was plucked from you.

for the cloud of generosity has cleared away from us.

Time stumbled, so say neither blame

وطرافَ المجد قوِّض زائلاً

وطرافَ المجد قوِّض زائلاً

فعمادُ المجدِ منك انتزعا

فعمادُ المجدِ منك انتزعا

And dismantle glory's pavilion as it passes away,

Nor excuse, but take both from it or leave both.

for glory's pillar has been torn from you.

For it has come with a slam that

عثر الدهرُ فقولا لا لعاً

عثر الدهرُ فقولا لا لعاً

فخذا باللوم منه أو دعا

فخذا باللوم منه أو دعا

Time has stumbled; say, you two: No recovery!

Shattered the backbone of the Exalted and broke it.

Take him to task with blame—or leave him be.

All troubles end at it,

فلقد جاءَ بها قاصمةً

فلقد جاءَ بها قاصمةً

خلعت صلبَ العُلى فانخلعا

خلعت صلبَ العُلى فانخلعا

For he has brought a back-breaking blow

So transgression and forgiveness came together.

that dislocated the spine of eminence and tore it loose.

More knowing which traits it slammed,

انتهت كلُّ الرزايا عندها

انتهت كلُّ الرزايا عندها

فتعدَّى العذلُ والعذر معا

فتعدَّى العذلُ والعذر معا

All calamities reached their utmost in it,

Or more knowing which drink it poured.

and reproach and excuse alike were left behind.

So the eyelid of religion turned to mote

أدرى أيَّ صفاتٍ قرعا

أدرى أيَّ صفاتٍ قرعا

أم درى أيَّ قناةٍ صدعا

أم درى أيَّ قناةٍ صدعا

Did he know what hard rock he struck,

Whose speck the Mahdi removed until it was laid to rest.

or know what spear-shaft he split?

But the Mahdi among us is a verse

فاستحالت مقلةُ الدين قذاً

فاستحالت مقلةُ الدين قذاً

طبّه المهديُّ حتَّى هجعا

طبّه المهديُّ حتَّى هجعا

So the eye of faith became all grit;

That amazed the Creator in what He originated.

al-Mahdi treated it until it slept.

No shocks could shake his patience, which

إنَّما المهديُّ فينا آيةٌ

إنَّما المهديُّ فينا آيةٌ

بهر الخالقَ فيما ابتدعا

بهر الخالقَ فيما ابتدعا

Al-Mahdi is indeed a marvel among us,

If it slammed the Shining Garden, it would quake.

dazzling the Creator in what He created.

He controlled his eyelids, but his heart

لم يزعزعْ حلمه الخطبُ الذي

لم يزعزعْ حلمه الخطبُ الذي

لو به يقرع رضوى زعزعا

لو به يقرع رضوى زعزعا

His forbearance was unshaken by a calamity that

And the fervour behind his ribs trembled.

would have shaken Radwa had it struck it.

O you who carry the burdens of the Exalted,

ملكَ الأجفانَ لكن قلبُه

ملكَ الأجفانَ لكن قلبُه

والجوى خلف الضلوع اصطرعا

والجوى خلف الضلوع اصطرعا

He mastered his eyelids, but his heart

Taking them on though they weigh heavily upon you.

and anguish wrestled behind his ribs.

You are the nation’s leader, and through you

أيُّها الحاملُ أعباءَ العُلى

أيُّها الحاملُ أعباءَ العُلى

ناهضاً في ثقلها مضطلعا

ناهضاً في ثقلها مضطلعا

O bearer of the burdens of eminence,

The religion of following has been legislated for them.

rising beneath their weight and bearing them firmly,

Those stung by the viper of misery seek remedy

مقتدى الأمَّة أنتم ولهم

مقتدى الأمَّة أنتم ولهم

بكم دينُ التأسِّي شرعا

بكم دينُ التأسِّي شرعا

you are the community's exemplars, and for them

In the incantations of your dreams.

emulating you has been ordained as a creed.

You were raised in houses which

يتداوى برقى أحلامكم

يتداوى برقى أحلامكم

مَن بأفعى رزئه قد لُسعا

مَن بأفعى رزئه قد لُسعا

Healing is found in the charms of your forbearance

God permitted to be elevated.

by one stung by the viper of his bereavement.

I do not see al-Fihā’ except as a forest

قد نشأتم في بيوتٍ لكم

قد نشأتم في بيوتٍ لكم

أذن اللهُ بها أن ترفعا

أذن اللهُ بها أن ترفعا

You grew up in houses of your own

Where one lion succeeds another.

that God permitted to be exalted.

If Abu Musa departs from it, here is

لا أرى الفيحاءَ إلاَّ غابةً

لا أرى الفيحاءَ إلاَّ غابةً

سبعٌ يخلفُ فيها سبعا

سبعٌ يخلفُ فيها سبعا

I see al-Fayha only as a forest

Abu al-Hadi returning to it.

where one lion succeeds another.

One lantern for another lantern in exchange,

إن مضى عنها أبو موسى فها

إن مضى عنها أبو موسى فها

بأبي الهادي إليها رجعا

بأبي الهادي إليها رجعا

If Abu Musa has departed from it, behold,

That one extinguished while this one shines.

in Abu al-Hadi he has returned to it.

A glory who extends a palm that never ceased

من سراجٍ في سراجٍ بدلٌ

من سراجٍ في سراجٍ بدلٌ

انطفى ذاكَ وهذا سطعا

انطفى ذاكَ وهذا سطعا

One lamp is exchanged for another:

To be a retreat for the one seeking dew.

that one went out, and this one shone.

Of high spirit the mind cannot attain, nor

ماجدٌ يبسطُ كفًّا لم تزلْ

ماجدٌ يبسطُ كفًّا لم تزلْ

لمن ارتادَ الندى منتجعا

لمن ارتادَ الندى منتجعا

A noble man extends a hand that has always

Can the bird of imagination alight upon it.

been a pasture for whoever sought bounty.

A master whom glory told “Rise up

ذو عُلًى ما نالها العقلُ ولا

ذو عُلًى ما نالها العقلُ ولا

طائرُ الوهم عليها وقعا

طائرُ الوهم عليها وقعا

A possessor of heights unreached by reason, nor

Where you will not find exaltedness rising higher.”

alighted upon by the bird of imagination.

And confined the word to him, but he

سيِّدٌ قالَ له المجدُ ارتفع

سيِّدٌ قالَ له المجدُ ارتفع

حيث لا تلقى السهى مرتفعا

حيث لا تلقى السهى مرتفعا

A lord to whom glory said: Rise

Followed the Chosen One, adhering.

where you will not find even Suha risen.

So he flowed in his wake, mounting

وحّد القول له لكنَّه

وحّد القول له لكنَّه

بأبي القاسم ثنَّى متبعا

بأبي القاسم ثنَّى متبعا

It addressed its words to him alone, but then

And riding the Gemini obediently.

added Abu al-Qasim, making him follow.

And the glory on his face, which

فجرى في إثره مرتفعاً

فجرى في إثره مرتفعاً

يركب الجوزاءَ ظهراً طيِّعا

يركب الجوزاءَ ظهراً طيِّعا

So he followed in his footsteps, rising,

That one had on al-Husayn’s face, radiated.

riding al-Jawza as an obedient mount.

My lords, pardon me, I have been shaken by a blow

وسنا المجد الذي في وجهه

وسنا المجد الذي في وجهه

ذاكَ في وجهِ الحسين التمعا

ذاكَ في وجهِ الحسين التمعا

And the radiance of glory upon his face—

That silenced the eloquent orator in me.

that same radiance shone upon al-Husayn's face.

My tongue did not stop eulogizing Jaʿfar

سادتي عفواً دهتني صدمةٌ

سادتي عفواً دهتني صدمةٌ

أفحمت منِّي الخطيبَ المصقعا

أفحمت منِّي الخطيبَ المصقعا

My lords, forgive me: a shock has struck me,

Or my beloved before that even if cut off.

silencing the eloquent orator within me.

لم أخل ينعى لساني جعفراً

لم أخل ينعى لساني جعفراً

وبودِّي قبل ذا لو قطعا

وبودِّي قبل ذا لو قطعا

I never imagined my tongue would announce Ja'far's death,

and I wish it had been severed before this.