أتاك الرّدى من حيث لا تحذر الرّدى

أتاك الرّدى من حيث لا تحذر الرّدى

وغافصني فيك الحِمامُ ولا أدري

وغافصني فيك الحِمامُ ولا أدري

Death came to you from where you did not expect death.

Misfortune came to you from where you least expected

And death caught me unawares in your loss, while I knew nothing.

And forgetfulness separated us though I know not why

فإنْ يَنْسَك الأقوامُ بعد تذكّرٍ

فإنْ يَنْسَك الأقوامُ بعد تذكّرٍ

فإنِّيَ معمورُ الجوانح بالذكرِ

فإنِّيَ معمورُ الجوانح بالذكرِ

If people forget you after remembering you,

If people forget you after having remembered

Yet my breast is filled with remembrance.

My heart is still filled with memories

وَإِنْ كانَ عُمري ما اِنقَضى بَعد أنْ مضى

وَإِنْ كانَ عُمري ما اِنقَضى بَعد أنْ مضى

مَداك فقد نغّصتَ لِي باقِيَ العمرِ

مَداك فقد نغّصتَ لِي باقِيَ العمرِ

And though my life has not yet ended after the passing

Even if my life that has passed is not yet gone

Of your span, you have indeed embittered the rest of my life.

By forgetting me you have embittered what remains

فلا زال ما وُسّدتَ فيه من الثّرى

فلا زال ما وُسّدتَ فيه من الثّرى

يعاوده ما شاء من سَبَلِ القَطْرِ

يعاوده ما شاء من سَبَلِ القَطْرِ

May the earth in which you were laid never cease

So the place in the earth where you lie

To be revisited by as much falling rain as it desires.

Will be dampened by rain as much as it desires