1. Tell to Jamal al-Din, O noblest of men, O purest by birth,
Can my praise of you, my lord, be free while I’m still enslaved?

2. I’ve a need which few seeking aid would fail to have met.
Slight is its weight, but great in my needful state.

3. What think you of a time so hard on a man declined by age
With nothing left him by mischance but loaned-out steeds?

4. Age-old is he; his years have wrought a far-flung lash
My grandfather said, “He’s been mangy since my dad was a boy.”

5. Abandonment has left him in my hands, so he's bereft
Of pasture, water-place, seeking from you neither grain

6. Nor sorghum nor hay nor fodder, but complaining of thirst
Dogging his course when dew has gone. He spends the night

7. Outdoors under sleet to split rocks in mid-Jumada –
Nearly the month when fires themselves expire!

8. Whenever it’s night it’s colder than the night before,
He’d be content with a stable keeping him from straying,

9. And a roof he can see, a bolted door behind,
Some groom for company whenever he can’t sleep in the dark.

10. So be with what you give me his provider. I am forsaken
By folk with hands all whitened. Yet I see my lot with them

11. As black. Their bounty waters enemies while kinsmen thirst,
Crying of thirst. They’ve left him deprived and helped themselves.

12. Off they went, praising themselves, praising themselves away.
Since they forgot him, do not blame him if he strays.