1. Oh how time allowed this book
Its blossoming brought me joy

2. I know not if it was a promise
That summoned it, so it responded

3. And my hand attained spoils from it
Would that time had allowed me a return

4. For if I gained naught but it
I'd be content with it, a drink to quench my thirst

5. When I secure this in my estrangement
Let me spend my life in estrangement

6. With its companionship I pelted
The devil of my worries, so was it a missile or a shooting star?

7. With it I sipped the gentle sweetness of affection
Reminding me of your tormenting charms

8. And I almost let down my train in delight
But their words proved meager

9. So I broke its seal by me as though
With its breaking I opened the garden's gate

10. And I almost scattered it in the lid of my eye
That I may entrust the flowers to the clouds

11. I was protecting it in my heart but
I feared for it that ardour would destroy it

12. If only the nights had allowed me
I'd have replied to your letter

13. So I offer my apology for gratitude
And give copiously of your praise

14. But the nights shackled me
And shook my resolve save for writing

15. So I meet loved ones only with
Greetings, dreams, or letters

16. For something the days pluck my feathers
For the arrow is fletched with feathers

17. And a blamer who says I do not listen
And if I listened I would not respond

18. She frightens me with calamities but they
Are too petty for me to narrow my eyebrows

19. When they approach I prepare their hosting
With composure, patience, and acceptance of destiny

20. And the likes of me is not frightened by calamities
The lion's den fears not the flies

21. You reproach me but my gaze does not turn
Does the wind exact all from the plateaus?

22. If reproach could avail something
I'd have filled the ears of the world with reproach

23. I advised it to stay silent about me
Yet it was silent nor spoke right

24. You blame me for leaving a land
Where I knew vitality and youth

25. You say, does the sword not rust
Unless the sword parts from the scabbard?

26. I said, does rust harm the sword
If it severs skulls and necks?

27. With delving perils, glories are attained
He who mounted rigours solves ease

28. The jungle's lion preys on people
The house's lion preys on flies

29. If birds' swooping were easy
Every bird would be an eagle

30. Leave me, by day I roam it
With resolves that tear through firmnesses

31. I flirt with one of its mysteries
Whose cheek whitened with age and youth

32. If she wished my company she would reveal herself
If she tired she'd hide herself from me in veil

33. By night I wander unrestrained
Though wishes are attained by the fortunate

34. I glimpse a dove in its stars
And drive a raven from its darkness

35. I ride its expanse murky as my thoughts
And verdant like my serene imaginings

36. And take what's my due from fate's daughters
Openly, I do not rob by force

37. Nor tag rhymes with praise
Or accept its blueprint as livelihood

38. Shall I praise one whose praise I lampoon?
If I scent dogs with musk?

39. I will conceal it from ears until
I return silence between us as a veil

40. I'll never praise while I live
Save swords, steeds, or comrades

41. Abu Musa - O brother of my love and affection
I converse, if only you would answer

42. But without that a fancy - if the wind
Blew it, it would not waft a reply

43. A brother of outstanding kindness
When relatives excel in affinity

44. I sent you a pearl of my verse
Which I brooded from my thoughts like clouds

45. Time denied that my person would meet you
But poetry sufficed for my person as deputy