ذَهِلتُ فَلَم أَنقَع غَليلاً بِعَبرَةٍ

ذَهِلتُ فَلَم أَنقَع غَليلاً بِعَبرَةٍ

وَأَكبَرتُ أَن أَلقى بِيَومِكَ ناعِيا

وَأَكبَرتُ أَن أَلقى بِيَومِكَ ناعِيا

I was stunned, and did not quench my burning anguish with a tear.

I was perplexed and could not quench my thirst with tears,

And I found it too dreadful to meet a death-herald on the day of your death.

And thought it unworthy to announce your death as a mourner.

فَلَمّا بَدا لي أَنَّهُ لاعِجُ الأَسى

فَلَمّا بَدا لي أَنَّهُ لاعِجُ الأَسى

وَأَن لَيسَ إِلّا الدَمعُ لِلحُزنِ شافِيا

وَأَن لَيسَ إِلّا الدَمعُ لِلحُزنِ شافِيا

Then, when it became clear to me that this was sorrow's searing torment,

But when it was clear that sorrow would not diminish,

And that tears alone could heal grief,

And that only tears could soothe the sadness,

أَقَمتُ لَكَ الأَنواحَ تَرتَدُّ بَينَها

أَقَمتُ لَكَ الأَنواحَ تَرتَدُّ بَينَها

مَآتِمُ يَندُبنَ النَدى وَالمَعالِيا

مَآتِمُ يَندُبنَ النَدى وَالمَعالِيا

I raised laments for you; among them resounded

I set up dirges for you, echoing between them

Mourning assemblies, bewailing generosity and lofty virtues.

Elegies mourning the dew and highlands.

وَما كانَ مَنعى الفَضلِ مَنعى وَحادَةٍ

وَما كانَ مَنعى الفَضلِ مَنعى وَحادَةٍ

وَلَكِنَّ مَنعى الفَضلِ كانَ مَناعِيا

وَلَكِنَّ مَنعى الفَضلِ كانَ مَناعِيا

And the tidings of al-Fadl's death were not tidings of one death alone,

It was not excellence that hindered me, nor arrogance,

But the tidings of al-Fadl's death were tidings of many deaths:

But excellence that acted as my preventer.

أَلِلبَأسِ أَم لِلجودِ أَم لِمُقاوِمٍ

أَلِلبَأسِ أَم لِلجودِ أَم لِمُقاوِمٍ

مِنَ المُلكِ يَزحَمنَ الجِبالَ الرَواسِيا

مِنَ المُلكِ يَزحَمنَ الجِبالَ الرَواسِيا

Was it for valor, or for generosity, or for lofty stations

Was it for valor, generosity, or for one who withstands

Of kingship that jostled the firmly rooted mountains?

Kings, climbing over lofty mountains?

عَفَت بَعدَكَ الأَيّامُ لا بَل تَبَدَّلَت

عَفَت بَعدَكَ الأَيّامُ لا بَل تَبَدَّلَت

وَكُنَّ كَأَعيادٍ فَعُدنَ مَباكِيا

وَكُنَّ كَأَعيادٍ فَعُدنَ مَباكِيا

The days faded after you—no, rather, they were transformed;

After you, the days have passed - no, rather they have changed,

And they had been like festivals, but became occasions for weeping.

And become like feasts, only to return mourning.

فَلَم أَرَ إِلّا قَبلَ يَومِكَ ضاحِكاً

فَلَم أَرَ إِلّا قَبلَ يَومِكَ ضاحِكاً

وَلَم أَرى إِلّا بَعدَ يَومِكَ باكِيا

وَلَم أَرى إِلّا بَعدَ يَومِكَ باكِيا

So I saw no one laughing except before the day of your death,

I saw none smiling except before your day,

And I saw no one weeping except after the day of your death.

And I saw none crying except after your day.