تَوَلَّى ابْنُ صَفْوَانٍ فَلاَ رَبْعَ بَعْدَهُ

تَوَلَّى ابْنُ صَفْوَانٍ فَلاَ رَبْعَ بَعْدَهُ

مِن اْلإِنْسِ إِلاَّ عَادَ وَهْوَ خَرَابُ

مِن اْلإِنْسِ إِلاَّ عَادَ وَهْوَ خَرَابُ

Ibn Safwan has departed; after him there is no dwelling

The son of Safwan has passed away, so no trace remains after him

Among humankind that has not become a ruin.

Among mankind except ruins and decay.

وَقَدْ كَانَ سَيْفاً فِي الْغَوَامِضِ مُنْتَضى

وَقَدْ كَانَ سَيْفاً فِي الْغَوَامِضِ مُنْتَضى

فَغطَّى عَلَيْهِ لِلصَّفِيحِ قِرَابُ

فَغطَّى عَلَيْهِ لِلصَّفِيحِ قِرَابُ

And he had been a sword unsheathed in intricate matters;

Once a sharp sword piercing confused minds,

So a sheath of stone slabs covered him.

Now rusted scabbards enclose his blade.

وَقَدْ كَانَ صَفْوَاناً عَلَيْهِ طُلاَوَةٌ

وَقَدْ كَانَ صَفْوَاناً عَلَيْهِ طُلاَوَةٌ

فَأَصْبَحَ صَفْوَاناً عَلَيْهِ تُرَابُ

فَأَصْبَحَ صَفْوَاناً عَلَيْهِ تُرَابُ

And he had been a smooth stone with luster upon it;

Safwan was clothed in splendor and grace,

Then became a smooth stone with dust upon it.

But only dust now covers his face.