1. His friends remind him, the stars and flowers,
Alas, what has remembrance done to him?

2. They are like him in remoteness, light and loftiness,
But to them belongs pride when compared to him.

3. And I used to complain of their estrangement in their nearness,
So who do I have if proximity and estrangement persist?

4. The generosity of the virtuous king has watered Egypt,
He is the reviving rain, not drizzle.

5. In it are generous souls who have kindled my being,
With their distance, embers with which ashes are burnt.

6. It is my habit, beautiful patience, and I have
No tears to shed for their distance, the rolling of stars is patience.

7. When the Trustee of the Faith is recalled,
I am confounded, as if wine has intoxicated my heart.

8. The virtuous remind me of him, though they come
As streams, if compared to him who is the sea.

9. When he attends the club, excellence radiates,
And if he speaks, it is pearls and magic.

10. And I admire the flow of his knowledge,
And I admire more how his heart can contain it.

11. The two abodes have pulled us apart and affection has declined,
So for proximity there is a share, and for remoteness a share.

12. It is as if when the nights passed in our separation,
Their injustice decreed we will not reunite in Egypt.

13. I dream of him when absent from it and when absent,
He dreams of it, so wonder at what fate has done.

14. Would that we meet even for an hour,
It would be boiling shortly before life runs out.

15. I would be blessed by seeing him and thank his grace,
Even if gratitude does not fulfil its duty to him.