1. Each person is accustomed to his own time,
And the habit of Saif Al-Dawla is to thrust with spears at the enemy,

2. And to belie the rumors about him with their opposite,
And he ends the day happily with what his enemies intended.

3. And many a loyalist he harmed, harming himself,
And many a defector he guided, but did not himself find guidance.

4. And many an arrogant person who did not know God for an hour,
When he saw his sword in his hand, started making the testimony of faith.

5. He is the sea, plunge into it when calm,
Pearls can be grasped, but beware of it when turbulent.

6. For I have seen the sea make the young man stumble,
Yet he is the one who willfully comes to the sea.

7. The kings of earth bow down to him submissively,
They leave him destroyed and meet him prostrating.

8. Swords and spears greet him,
And he kills with a smile and seriousness.

9. Quick-witted, you would think his eye is ahead of him,
His heart sees during his day what eyes will see tomorrow.

10. With his horses he reaches the most rugged terrain,
If the ray of the sun were water he would lead it to drink.

11. That is why the son of Al-Dumustaq called his day
Mammat; and Al-Dumustaq called it a birthday,

12. You rode to Al-Jaihan from the land of Amud
In three days - quick pace took you close and returned you far.

13. So he fled, and gave you his son and his armies together,
And did not give all to be praised.

14. You offered him life and his neck,
And he saw the bare sword of God from you.

15. And the blue spears wanted none but him,
But Constantine was for him a ransom.

16. So he woke up wearing the religious gown in fear,
Once he wore brocade robes.

17. And the cripple walked him in the monastery repentant,
He would not accept walking after the reddish-black horse.

18. He did not repent until paralysis distorted his face,
Wounded, and his eyelids were afflicted with cataract.

19. If piety could save someone from Ali,
The angels would pray two-by-two and alone.

20. And everyone in East and West henceforth
Prepared for him a black woolen robe.

21. Congratulations on the feast which you are its feast,
And a feast for whoever prayed, sacrificed, and renewed.

22. And the feasts continued to be your garb after him,
Handing over worn-out clothes and being given new ones.

23. So this day among days is like you among people,
As you were unique among them, it became unique.

24. It is superior until the eye exceeds its sister,
And until the day becomes master to the day.

25. So what a wonder from one whose sword you are,
Does he not fear the two edges of what you carry?

26. And who makes the vulture his hunting bird,
The vulture will hunt him while he hunts.

27. I saw you as pure clemency with full ability,
Had you wished, clemency from you would be deterred.

28. And nothing kills the noble like pardoning them,
And who can protect the free man but his hand?

29. If you honor the honorable you gain him,
But if you honor the despicable he rebels.

30. Replacing the sword with leniency through power
Is harmful, like replacing leniency with the sword.

31. But excel people in opinion and wisdom,
As you surpassed them in state, self, and possessions.

32. Your actions filter thoughts,
The hidden is ignored and the obvious is taken.

33. Remove the envy of enviers from me by suppressing them,
For you are the one who made them envy me.

34. If the beauty of your opinion strengthens my determination,
I strike with a sword that severs necks while sheathed.

35. And I am but a poet you carried,
So he appeared well-presented and watched carefully.

36. And time is none but the narrator of my necklaces,
When I recite poetry, time becomes a vocalizer.

37. So he who does not travel travelled with it energetically,
And he who does not sing sang it melodiously.

38. Accept me if I sing poetry, for only
Through my poetry did the praisers come to you repeating.

39. And leave every voice but my voice, for I am
The screaming one, the narrator, and the others are the echo.

40. I left travel behind for those whose money is scarce,
And I shod my horses with your bounty completely.

41. And I harnessed myself in your rope out of love,
And whoever finds favor is harnessed and bound.

42. When man asks his days for wealth
And you are far away, he makes you the appointment.