1. My passion has stirred for me
A gazelle, ever elusive

2. Graceful of beauty, gentle
Fair of cheek and stature

3. He has a crescent-shaped face
Dazzling when it appears from afar

4. In his glance there is magic
In his saliva like honey

5. When we are joined by love
Without reproach or blame

6. You fear me for I have wasted away
From yearning and passion

7. They say, ask about him
Yet he has broken his vow

8. I have no question about him
Rather say what I have

9. To whom shall I complain
Of my poverty and exhaustion?

10. Time has wearied me
With the worst of intentions

11. So I joined the blind
In jest and seriousness

12. From my striving I gained
Nothing but exile and toil

13. I donned from the craft
A shirt to outlast me

14. Its fabric from the harem
And disappointment has overcome me

15. Its collar from destitution
Woven like mail

16. Yet, by God's praise
I am in a house of glory

17. I take pride in the Banu Sasan
The grateful and praiseworthy

18. Kings who own the land
From east to west

19. And the sons of Al-A'maliq
Like pearls in a necklace

20. They are the lords and the refuge
The people of lenience and severity

21. With crescent banners
Matching each other

22. Lovers, intimate friends
Healers against any challenger

23. Theirs is the land of Khurasan
And Ghazna to the mountain passes

24. To the coast, then Zabul
And Sind to India

25. To ash-Sham and the Maha
Both near and far

26. When the march is difficult
For the leaders and troops

27. Beware their enemies
Among the bedouins and Kurds

28. We cut that fear
Without sword or scabbard

29. And whoever fears their enemies
Can counter fear and prepare

30. For we have pride above all people
Wearing the simple aba in winter’s cold

31. And enduring the summer heat
On a day of lightning and thunder

32. Blowing the horn and hooting din
Roasting meat on the fiery embers

33. Riding the swift, wine-dark mare
Does the brave warrior of Nejd

34. With fortune and cunning in battle
Cutting through the melee

35. Stabbing them, I defend
Bellowing when it grows intense

36. With yelling and alone I charge
Herding camels together

37. By slapping their cheeks
And our colorful tents

38. Arranged in a beautiful display
Our Sufis, when inspired

39. Compose with creative zeal
And all our squadrons

40. Imposing, stern
He who parades people about

41. And he who barters craftily
And allies, some lords, some slaves

42. Fulfilling roles by destiny
Executing every plan

43. Or earning by hard slog
Clown, fortuneteller

44. Monkey-trainer playing his game
Teasing the well-walked soothsayer

45. In the two harvests and winter
And the numerologist

46. Of fine description and count
The Sufi mystic

47. Who softly sings of asceticism
If we saw Al-Khashni

48. Stern like lions in captivity
O night of exile

49. In nests like the lion
We returned from toil

50. Slain by separation
Each of us hails the others

51. When one dies of misery
We stood and clapped

52. And counted couplets
Cast the tambourines

53. Striking them heedlessly
Brought out the drums

54. What else was there?
This one cooks the pot

55. That one tends the flame
This one fixes the place up

56. With basil and citron blooms
We squatted and took the initiative

57. To revelry and celebration
The cup circled between us

58. At the site of drinking and dice
We were hungry and censed ourselves

59. Without incense or fire
Rather we broke wind

60. Intentional emissions
By Al-Khushni’s vulgarity

61. My father Musa, unmatched
We jested and frolicked

62. Without shame or reserve
We let loose and made free

63. Brother of youth and loss
So we sang for those who have left

64. The sands now empty of people
Says Al-Ahnaf the unfortunate

65. I am trapped inside my skin
Were it not for fear of people

66. And procrastinating promises
I would not have begged

67. From the cradle to the grave