1. Winter came suddenly with surprise
As if it had been hiding in wait

2. The flowing water froze in the glass
And the ground was covered as if with ivory

3. The pasture was denied to the sheep
And the seed was denied to the chickens

4. And travel was denied on the paths
Many a swift and robust horse

5. Accustomed to bridle and saddle
And cheekpiece and crupper and stirrup

6. Woke up writhing as if with colic
Buckling though on level ground

7. If its rider had driven it on
It would have walked only crooked

8. If not for the ice, the spirited one would have flown
Like Al-Buraq with the Prophet's night journey

9. And landed while the sun was still in the constellations
But because of the ice it buckled

10. And people refrained from argument
Do you not hear their voices whispering

11. As if the crowds were at the sanctuaries
At Mina the processions of pilgrims

12. And the ostentatious one was drawn
To rough, hand-woven clothes

13. When he was brought the crown
He turned away from it and threw down his staff

14. And the river drew back from tumult
And was like the seething, frothing torrent

15. Wrestling waves with waves
O path of flocks and processions

16. How you have become a footway for the wretched
And a crossing for people into destitution

17. Why am I at dawn still tossing and turning
Stumbling about like a blind man in the darkness

18. When I try to walk my accustomed path
I stumble and slip constantly

19. As if walking on glass
Steadying myself with shifting quicksilver

20. So violent is my shaking
It seems my blood trembles in my veins

21. I see the world as a place of pitfalls
Yet my need is not to avoid them

22. But for a clear, smooth road
To walk on without trouble

23. And I need the blazing star
As the blind man needs a lamp

24. If this shame persists in distressing me
I will raise my complaint to the heavens