1. فَلَو أَنَّ أَيامَ المَنونِ تَرَكنَنا

    فَعِشنا مَعاً ما ضَرَّنا مَن تُخُرِّما

    So, had the days of death left us alone,

    and we had lived together, no one's death would have hurt us;

  2. وَمازالَ مِنّا حامِلٌ لِلوائِنا

    وَموقِدُ نارٍ لِلنَدى حَيثُ يَمَّما

    and among us there would always have been a bearer of our banner,

    and a kindler of a fire for generosity wherever he headed.

  3. وَلَكِنَّ أَياماً مِنَ الدَهرِ أَحدَثَت

    لَنا حَدَثاً أَوهى عُروشاً وَهَدَّما

    But days of time brought about

    for us a calamity that weakened thrones and brought them down.

  4. وَما زادَنا عَضُّ الثِقافِ قَناتَنا

    وَلا شِدَّةُ العَزّاءِ إِلا تَكَرُّما

    And the straightening clamp's bite on our spear-shaft added nothing to us,

    nor did the severity of hardship, save nobility.