1. My heart revived though no breeze blew,
A lightning flash blazed though the gloom was dewed,

2. And as the crescent of nighttime drew,
Each thing recalls its counterpart anew,

3. May God water the meads whence pleasance grew,
And if I water them with tears that spew,

4. The days have stolen blossoms’ pristine hue,
Yet still on my head they burst and brew,

5. My friend has changed his color, as lovers do,
And who, O glory, does not change his hue?

6. Once the boy seemed night and I a dreamer too,
Alas for me, grey hair brings dawn anew!

7. My night blames my reserve, my sighs accrue,
So my heart grows used to sadness when I rue,

8. My night fails to know me when I don my crown,
When a man wears his turban, he cannot be known.

9. I fast from the darling boy out of godly fear
Though my heart for his sweetness remains sincere,

10. I recalled the lands where union held sway,
My tears painted my cheeks red in their way,

11. Unless my eyes pour carnelian in their display,
I cannot see the dwellings where graces stay,

12. Unless the wild doe’s glance pursues me as prey,
Her life can no more turn glad and green and gay,

13. The nights gather beauty in the cheeks of girls,
And gather it too in their graceful, lithe twirls,

14. Favoring the cheek of the fair one in her curls,
Though in her troth sincerity never unfurls,

15. I saw the boy, expiating what sins befell
The youth when the crowsfeet of age dispel,

16. When the whiteness of hoariness begins to swell
Upon my temples, it makes the tears as well

17. To flow down freely, as though it were a rain-cloud fell,
It’s as if I never chased a boy in the vale,

18. Nor sought a proud, flirtatious, unrestrained female,
Nor walked the thick-grassed, flourishing field in its veil,

19. Where a blossom would greet me without fail,
And a wild doe whose eyes were dewy and pale,

20. One nostril blocked, the other quick to exhale!
My regrets for losing a cheek, a spit-curl, and a mole—

21. Three coquettish figures once my senses stole!
I spent the juicy fruits of my youth, my role

22. Complete, though now it is time my hopes to curtail.
How often I lifted ambition to a mighty scale,

23. Hoping thereby my strength in calamities to entail!
I folded up her cheek, soft as a shred

24. Of the silk-soft leaf, in the darkness of night that led
The stars to spread their wings o’er her delicate head

25. As the ostrich spreads its plumes in sudden fright and dread,
The flints strike the partridge, it seems she fears

26. Her lover may somehow be mentioned in jeers,
When the shapes of the fawn tracks mark the page,

27. They form lines of scripture, marvelous presage,
God’s name a letter no mirror can gauge

28. Like the secret marks on a sword within its sheath encaged,
We crossed through Syria’s land unto the nation

29. Where Ri’yadh’s garden and the pulpit of salutation
Lie, to sanctuary where peace reigns, fears abated,

30. When tumults into fearful silence are grated,
To whom salvation from the critic is fated

31. On the morrow when the choice few are feted—
Prophet! Perfected by God in his greatness,

32. Adam was molded from clay for his completeness,
He is creation’s excellent benefactor,

33. The horizon never reached where his glory factors,
Nor bloom that praising stars o’er it scatter,

34. Nor verse inscribed on Sirius’ celestial sphere scatter,
He is the flowing source of life-giving waters,

35. Though he is the sweetly-running, Valley’s Daughters,
So who can find terms fit to praise this sea?

36. None can enumerate his traits however he try or see,
When his excellence describers sprang up loftily,

37. Still they could not grasp the fullest totality,
A prophet of noble lineage, roots and branches be,

38. Creatures in earthly graves heard and crawled to see,
Wild creatures, seeking no honey, were tamed by his beauty

39. Marvels abide with his staff for all humanity,
It was a branch, lo, the lead of its handle abrupted!

40. Let hand and wonder alike for this prophet be suited!
Qatadah's suffering was soothed, his eye defeated,

41. As it ran with the tears by which it was treated,
By my life, Muhammad’s traits surpass wonders competed,

42. As moving stars traverse their course completed,
I see the seal of prophets fulfilled the prophets’ own signs,

43. His lives on till the world’s end and evermore shines,
Greatest pride of scripture, whenever a reader divines

44. Or says “God is Greatest”, he brightens and refines,
He ascended the seven heavens to the furthest confines

45. Where Gabriel stood from his eminence far behind,
Most High he remained over messengers of ev'ry kind,

46. Such that he gained admission to the holy precinct assigned,
Chosen and exemplar whom none can hope to find,

47. His gleam never dims and his light is not confined,
The stars swooned at his splendor as though they had been wined,

48. His hands caused even Mount Sawa to pour forth its brined
Waters, and why not when his hands made oceans designed?

49. He is the abundant source of graces for mankind,
Sweetly potable, no bitterness to find,

50. Who then can parallel him when Gabriel to him inclined
In service, and Jesus heralded him to mankind?

51. With Gabriel attending on him with love refined,
And Jesus going before to proclaim and remind?

52. When we seek his intercession, God's rage will rescind,
The bridge will say, "Pass!", when perplexities bind,

53. He brought his light through the loins of lords of humankind,
So God gave him highest place among noblest of mind,

54. Through him the Friend was empowered—idols declined,
His hands smashed them though hosts to protect them aligned,

55. The two sacrifices were ransoms with blessings enshrined.
Blood, amongst all blood, is sacred as he designed,

56. Foiled from his people's abode the elephant forces combined,
God's aid preceded requests, triumph entwined,

57. When God made his religion appear to mankind,
He shone like the moon while pagan faith darkened blind,

58. He dispelled night's gloom and the faith stood defined,
Upheld by God's aid the invoker victorious refined,

59. His awe moved the clouds, wild beasts were to him kind,
Lions were tamed; in hardship and ease he was resigned,

60. Brave with no dread of invaders, freely inclined,
Open-handed, not fearing poverty of any kind,

61. None can hope to match him, though clouds were assigned
To give him shade and point when to pour rain designed,

62. Have you not seen how the rain in the clouds is defined
As horsemen when its boons shower bright and aligned?

63. He is the sea of abundant and copious rainclouds refined,
Yet he is the gently flowing water heaven designed,

64. Who then can fashion an essence in speech refined
To praise this ocean’s essence and nature designed?

65. Vainly might any wooer of praise strive to find
And count the Prophet's traits—they are unconfined!

66. When the soaring poets sang his praise, their intertwined
Songs still could not encompass what his advent designed

67. To inspire in people’s souls, however they are inclined,
A prophet of pure lineage, origin and mind,

68. Roots crawled forth from the dust they'd left behind
To greet him, and the wild addressed him warmly kind,

69. Gentle toward him, though wild, and tamed to the refined,
His staff worked marvels; mute objects were not blind

70. But influenced—through all things his impress shined!
Behold, while Moses' staff was bare wood rough-rinded,

71. His became smooth-shafted, richly designed!
Qatadah's suffering eye was soothed, though pained and blinded,

72. It ran with tears by which it was reminded!
By my life! Muhammad’s traits surpassed all humankind,

73. Like stars traversing the sky in splendor lined!
Of prophets' signs, his fulfills all intertwined,

74. And lives forever for the world refined!
Whenever the Koran reader’s voice is divined,

75. Or God's name said: “Greatest!” - he is praised, enshrined!
He ascended high heavens, none left behind,

76. Save Gabriel, by his glory opined!
Most high is he, messengers of ev'ry kind

77. Beneath him, graced in the precincts divine designed!
Chosen one we follow whom none can hope to find,

78. His light never dims, his splendor stays enshrined,
The stars swooned at his glory, as if they had been wined,

79. His hands caused even Mount Sawa's stones to grind—
Why not, when his hands made oceans Grow refined!

80. He is abundant rain clouds for mankind,
Sweetly potable—no bitterness we find!

81. Who can hope to match him, with Gabriel inclined
To serve him, Jesus heralding humankind?

82. Gabriel attends him, love and zeal refined,
Jesus proclaiming, praising, for us designed!

83. If we seek his interceding, God's rage rescinded,
The bridge will say “cross safely” when cares have blinded!

84. O Messenger of God! My needs to you tended—
Multiplying, while your glory's without ended!

85. I’ve versified in your honor, the creation amended,
Finest ode above all verse that's expended!

86. Deep meaning, though words repeat, is upended,
I drew near your nobility—such vaunts transcended!

87. No harm, since your fragrant breath is befriended,
Not hurt by blowing wind where no branches have bended!

88. Your blessings, God’s Messenger, at each abode intended
Cross it, secrets from Riadh’s vale have wended,

89. On your house and companions be gifts commended,
Favors and necklaces of verse around them appended!

90. By your station grant my needs attendance unended,
Great though my needs are, greater yet is your splendor!

91. I’ve aimed my excuses, hope not impended,
Sure now my triumph will not be up-ended.