نعد أنفاسه ونحسبها

والليل فيه الظلام يلتطم

We count his breaths and tally them.

And in the night, darkness crashes against itself.

إذا خروج الحياة أجهده

تساقطت عن جبينه الديم

When life's departure exhausts him,

Steady rains fall from his brow.

صدرٌ كصدر الخضم مضطرب

جحافل الموت فيه تزدحم

A chest, turbulent like the breast of the sea;

Death's legions crowd within it.

إن قام ملنا له بمسمعنا

أو نام خفت بوطئنا القدم

If he rises, we incline our ears toward him;

Or if he sleeps, our feet tread lightly.

يرتاع من طول نومه الأمل

ويشتكيه الرجاء والسأم

Hope takes fright at his long sleep,

And hope and weariness complain of it.

كأنما الخوف من تردده

خيلٌ لها من رجائنا لجم

As though fear, in its wavering,

Were horses with bridles made of our hope.

خلناه قد مات وهو في سنة

ونائم الجفن وهو مخترم

We thought him dead, though he was dozing,

And thought his eyelids asleep, though death had taken him.

قد قلصت ثغره منيته

كأنه للحمام يبتسم

His death had drawn back his lips,

As though he were smiling at death.