1. I prefer days that you do not like,
And I complain to them about us while they are its army.

2. They separate a love that unites, and its union,
So how can love unite when its separateness is stronger?

3. The nature of this world refused a lasting beloved.
So my quest from it is not for a beloved that lasts.

4. The quickest thing to change is what you force yourself to do
Against your nature—its opposite undoes it.

5. May God watch over Isa since she left us, though over her
Is a moon, its cheeks wholly turning away.

6. In a land where there is nothing in hearts as though
They left, a necklace coming undone as they walked away,

7. When the slender ones walked above its plants,
The scent of singing slave-girls wafted around.

8. In a state like one of them, she reached maturity,
With beyond her the expanse of the road and its distance.

9. I tire the people of God most when my worries increase
And fall short of what my soul desires to find.

10. So do not squander all your wealth vaingloriously
Lest glory knotted to wealth come undone.

11. Manage it as one whose glory is his palm,
When he wars with enemies and wealth is his weapon.

12. For there is no glory in this world for one whose wealth is little,
Nor wealth in this world for one whose glory is small.

13. Among people there are those who are content with a modest living,
Their mounts are their legs and their clothes are their skins.

14. But I have a heart between my ribs whose
Expanse ends for me in some desire I love most,

15. Who sees his body clothed in fine garments that soil it,
So prefers to be clothed in armor that protects him.

16. You task me to wander on every mission,
My provisions are my hopes, my travel-food is my determination.

17. The surest weapon a man arms himself with
Is hope in my generous father and his purpose.

18. They both help whoever every helper betrayed,
And are family to whoever’s ancestors left no extended family.

19. Today I am one of his young men, among a tribe
To whom we have a father who ransoms his sons with his life.

20. Whoever’s wealth is the wealth of the great, his own self,
And whoever’s wealth is the pearl of the little one, his cradle.

21. We pull the battle lines taut around his tents,
As the collar of encampment comes undone around us.

22. We try the spears in every downpour
Whose thunder is the rumble of Persian armor.

23. For if Egypt is not the land of war or its lair,
Then the lion among its people is just a cat.

24. Ingots of camphor whose currency is not fingers
But the edge of the sword—that is its value.

25. Its environs the enemy plundered, and others,
And the zeal of exile tested it, joking and serious.

26. Abu al-Misk does not negate forgiveness if you slip,
But it does fade if you offer no excuse for your hatred.

27. O you made victorious by striving, his striving is his victory,
O you made victorious by victory, his striving earned it.

28. Youth turned away from me, but when I saw you I felt no loss,
For it had grown old in this time, while in your presence its bloom returned.

29. If only the day of travel could tell of its heat,
Then you could ask it, and the night tell of its cold.

30. If only you could see me distracted, wandering,
Then know I am the edge of your sword.

31. When I undertake something I want,
Its far reaches draw near and its hardest part grows simple.

32. People have been confusing me and you,
But when you appeared clearly to me, its distinction was clear.

33. It's said that when I see an army and its lord
Before you, the lord is just your army's servant.

34. And the grinning mouth throws down the gauntlet—I know
He is near to the hand of redemption, faithful to his covenant.

35. So those who long for you visited you from me,
While among people, none but you reject all others.

36. Whoever does not make your house their goal misses out,
And comes to know that was the limit of their effort.

37. If I gain what I hope from you, perhaps
I will drink water too much for birds to reach.

38. Your promise is action, for it is
The equal of the truthful man's word and promise.

39. So be good to me in your patronage, like one who tests
To show you the advance of a steed and its drive.

40. If you doubt a sword, then test it—
Either reject or prepare it.

41. The Indian blade is no different from others
If the scabbard does not leave it and its sheath.

42. You are thanked in every circumstance,
Even if its only asset is a cheerful face.

43. So any fortune, whether past or to come,
A glance from you is its equal to me.

44. I am in an ocean of goodness, its source
Your gifts—I hope for their continuation, as it continues.

45. My ambition was not for temporary advantage I'd gain
But for pride that renews itself that I strive for,

46. That one generously gives when his generosity exposes others',
And one praises when his praise exposes others' praise.

47. For no ill star has passed you
That you did not face it while your face brought good fortune.