إذا ذكر الأمير نعى الأمينا

وان رقد الخلي حمى الجفونا

Whenever he recalls the prince, he mourns al-Amin;

and though the carefree man sleeps, he keeps his eyelids wakeful.

وما برحت منازل بين بُصرى

وكلواذا تهيج لي الشجونا

And still the dwellings between Busra

and Kalwadha stir my sorrows.

عراصُ الملكِ خاويةٌ تهادى

بها الأرواحُ تنسجها فنونا

The royal courtyards lie empty; softly drifting

through them, the winds weave varied patterns.

تخونَ عزَّ ساكنها زمانٌ

تلعبَ بالقرون الأولينا

Time ravaged their inhabitant’s glory,

having toyed with the generations of old.

فشتت شملهم بعد اجتماعٍ

وكنت بحسنِ ألفتهم ضنينا

It scattered their company after their unity,

and I had jealously treasured their lovely fellowship.

فلم أر بعدهم حسناً سواهم

ولم ترهم عيونُ الناظرينا

I saw nothing fair after them, save themselves,

nor did onlookers’ eyes behold them.

فوا أسفا وان شمت الأعادي

وآه على أمير المؤمنينا

So alas, even if the enemies gloat,

and ah, for the Commander of the Faithful!

أضل العرفَ بعدك متبعوه

ورفِّهَ عن مطايا الراغبينا

After you, those seeking generosity cannot find it,

and the mounts of favor-seekers have been given rest.

وكن الى جنابك كل يومٍ

يرحنَ على السعودِ ويغتدينا

And daily they used to come to your court,

traveling at evening under lucky stars and setting out at dawn.

هو الجبلُ الذي هوت المعالي

لهدته وريع الصالحونا

He is the mountain: lofty glories fell

at his collapse, and the righteous were struck with dread.

ستندب بعدك الدنيا جواراً

وتندبُ بعدك الدين المصونا

After you, the world will lament with loud wailing,

and mourn, after you, the safeguarded faith.

فقد ذهبت بشاشة كل شيءٍ

وعادَ الدينُ مطروحاً مهينا

For the cheerfulness of everything has vanished,

and the faith has become cast down and humiliated.

تعقد عز متصلٍ بكسرى

وملته وذل المسلمونا

Firm grew the might of one linked to Khosrow

and his creed, while the Muslims were abased.