1. Longing has saddened me for one longed for by remoteness
Would that I were remoteness, would that he were longing

2. I delight in renewing passion’s memory of what is past
And though it has no lasting stone or solid structure

3. Your presence has come to me in my eye though you are far
My heart’s a sleeper and my pens tend your roses’ herd

4. You are envisioned as though you never left
As though hopes of your union were sincere promises

5. You almost seem to wipe away my streaming tears
And your breeze’s fragrance to perfume my robe

6. When a beauty betrays and breaks her vow
Her habit is vows have no enduring quality

7. If she loved she’d be most ardent in devotion
If she flirted go, she intended no flirtation

8. If she resented no contentment would remain in her heart
If she approved no resentment would remain in her heart

9. Such is the nature of women and by it sometimes
The guided man goes astray and discernment is obscured

10. But the love which stirred the heart in youth
Increases in bitterness across the years

11. The son of Ali watered the gardens of the tribe of Muzainah
Returning their watering as they make return

12. That you might be watered as you’ve watered the lands you dwell
And over you might grow pride and glory

13. By whom do gazes stand to attention on the day he rides forth
And the coats of mail are ripped by the thronging crowd?

14. The banners casting down their weapons for the profusion
Of signals toward him when he comes into view

15. Blow after blow against blows that strike down the valiant in battle
Light yet heaviest for the steed is the coat of mail

16. Discerning in seizing glory on every side
Even if the lion concealed it between its jaws

17. By his beauty the youth is enriched before gaining riches
And by the dread of him the firm ropes are cut

18. My sword because you are the sword not what the scabbards contain
For slashing while the sword finds its scabbard in you

19. My spear because you are the spear not what the spear tips contain
Quenching thirst, without the polish no sword pierces the coat

20. I divide gratitude between myself and them
Because they are given that they may give

21. So my gratitude to them is double: thanks for bestowal
And thanks for the gratitude they gave afterward

22. Their steeds in vigil at the shrine-domes
And they are envisioned in their fearful hearts charging

23. Their souls exposed to meet their deputations
Their wealth to one from whom no envoy profits

24. As if the gifts of Hussein are armies
Among them Indian swords and armored Julian recruits

25. I see the moon-faced son of the sun wearing a turban
Gently, until it adorns the cheek, O youth

26. The excess links of his coat of mail billowing
Around a waist slender as a channeled lance shaft

27. He takes up the virgin deeds of nobility as one impeccable
And so were his forefathers, outstanding singularly

28. I praised his father before him and it healed my hand
Of insignificance, by whom afflicted eyes are cleared of clouds

29. He granted me gifts beyond peers to avoid
My censure, they are surely for current expenses

30. The pleasure of one liberal whose open-handedness
Is praise, praise, and the generous one is unparalleled by it

31. So I did counter detractors with the likes of it
In their hands rancor and in my hands riposte

32. Within my grasp are the banners of glorious deeds and his assets
While in theirs is whatever I gained despite their envy

33. They aspire to lower me by speaking but
Only an ape rivals a man’s eloquence

34. To Ibn Dhi'aybah they are crowds he cannot see
And clamor he cannot hear in his eternity

35. And from me people gained each new wonder
They refrained from blame if not also praise

36. I found Ali and his son the best of their people
The best of a people, freeman and slave equal

37. And my poetry about them remains in its place
A pleasing necklace on a maiden’s neck