1. They passed away before their time, while still in their prime,
A group of gazelles, toyed with by the Zephyrs of youth.

2. Not a day when they left but blood streamed from my eyes,
With wounds in my heart caused by losing them.

3. When you left, joy itself departed,
So neither you remain, nor does joy for me.

4. My friends, loving you was with all my being,
Yearning as intense as Hell’s torment.

5. Would that I had news of your camp in my salad days
And signals from you amid the lightning’s flash.

6. Would that the days of play lasted still,
Erased were those times by fate and human will.

7. Where homes were a perfumed garden,
Where clouds constantly watered its lily and jasmine bed.

8. When separation’s ache we never felt
Nor were poetry gatherings devoid of companions’ verse.

9. When the dreams of youth all came true
And in what I loved I held command.

10. I roamed my homeland joyfully
And controlled fate during my days.

11. How many a tavern of forbidden wine I came and went,
But never once visited sober and staid meeting halls.

12. I used to race to be first to reach their drinking dens
For I was accustomed to arriving before all the rest.

13. At night I wandered to its furthest monastery, which
Seemed with darkness falling a glowing lantern.

14. I lifted the veils covering it – so pure it was!
Naught inside but the Zephyrs of youth.

15. It crept up on the army of Cares and
Seemed with the goblets aligned its waving banners.

16. I remained there hiding the shame of Regret,
Until before dawn all became as they hadn’t been.

17. Secrets it harbored died inside without revealing their mysteries,
Needs of a tribe whose needs have specific times.

18. They gather round their vessels like planets around the sky,
As if drinking for them causes death, not the meeting place itself;

19. Such that life seems dead, while drinking seems alive.
I remembered among a tribe those who trod upon them

20. So I reclaimed from the tribe’s heads my vengeance.
I elicited laughter – gifts of beauty everywhere –

21. As if fire circulated amongst outstretched hands.
Bits of gold from each bracelet in her dimpled cheeks

22. Were apportioned in people’s hearts like gifts.
A mouth articulating from drunkenness words of union –

23. Its contours like waves doubling back on themselves.
Swaying in my hands from sheer rapture,

24. Those crystal glasses actually danced.
I began to drink from her mouth and wine –

25. A draft that launched raids on my mind.
Her veil descended upon her cheeks as she recited –

26. “These homes where memory’s milestones mark my days.”
Quenching those bygone nights we once enjoyed

27. Since life is but those bygone nights.
Eras fall short of capturing their essence

28. Just as ordinary folk cannot match the nobility’s merit.
We saw the flourish of generosity flow from his hand

29. Yet most generosity amounts to words alone.
He concealed his glory during days of sadness and grief

30. Glory fades while praise remains firm.
Bestowing his favor like rain upon creation

31. Does cloud rain feed rain back to the sky?!
Learning polished branches of knowledge

32. Until knowledge and gardens of bliss thrived.
People resumed singing joyful melodies

33. After so many plaintive laments.
No fear of losing one blessed by his hand

34. As if his gifts for mankind are essential provision.
Nor will traits of generosity ever abandon him

35. As if halos hovering over nobility.
O you who complain of fickle time, it veered toward him

36. As if around his door making amends for time’s sins!
O you who sinned, accept his forgiveness utterly

37. Since when else can you find refuge or escape!
Don’t let pardoning embolden excess

38. Sparks may flare from flexible twigs.
O scholar, if perplexed by a problem,

39. O you who struggle to gain knowledge and bounty,
Don’t seek from life the impossible,

40. In your requests you already overburden life!
Don’t believe those who died and what tales they tell

41. Tighter pull the reins controlling narratives.
Read his legal theory and act upon his edicts

42. As elucidations give way to more elucidations.
Were eloquence to describe his abundant merit

43. It would make even inanimate things speak!
A worthy lad who obtained sheets emblazoned with Glory

44. Before a single line was etched into his cheek.
Protecting lands with guided, unerring pens

45. Banishing doubt and confusion far away.
Protecting the pure faith with pens of extension

46. From the path of guidance overflowing.
Virtuous, preventing any harm to Islam

47. Wondrous how soothing are disagreements!
He learned warcraft to crush tyranny

48. Since the day he sharpened swords made to slay rebels ruthless and blind.
Taught to kill those deviant, misguided

49. As if sorting through the scraps of fate.
Residing alongside the sea, he smiled at words

50. Like lustrous jewels inside oyster shells.
Diction more lucid than meaning itself

51. As panels allow light to shine through.
Amulets made of jasmine protect nobility

52. With clear Qur’anic signs writ upon it.
His brilliant, lofty logic and piety shine forth

53. Dispelling doubts without complaints from the lowly.
A blossom that loves mentioning him thrives

54. While talk of mutual hatred is but mutual destruction.
Seekers swarm around his courtyard

55. With voices unintelligible amidst the clamor.
Delegations and cavalry with reddened swords

56. Vying in praise however expressions may differ.
When considering favors he multiplies

57. Each journey’s end seems but another’s start.
Every lofty step he takes proves astonishing

58. As if each move he makes touches the apex.
No defect lies in him but miraculous greatness

59. For which the noble feel affinity.
After them flows the honorable blood of battle

60. Such is true mettle, neither blemish nor spot!
From traits that spread appears a resplendence

61. Safety for opposites; destruction for rivals.
No protection defends those drawn to him

62. Except protection ensuring the honorable passage.
No parallel for what lofty ambitions build

63. Unless aspirations reach the brilliant stars!
Each day lessons for me from his wisdom

64. Just as waves return foam to the sea.
He prays behind outstretched hands so praised

65. May those hands be covered in clouds’ blessings!
He defends against blame’s accusations

66. Since no benefit comes from blame’s wounds.
To delay generosity and determination may be desired

67. But delay brings detrimental consequence.
Of noble progeny who died - you’d think

68. They hadn’t died, for enduring legacy and virtues fair.
Even when dark night reigns above

69. Chanting their innocence, denying any wrong they shared.
Don’t complain of injustice unless you oppose them

70. Nor, whilst among them, blame the neighbors.
Don’t let the gales of discord wander

71. Not even as far as pure souls have wandered.
A house perfected by traits of perfection

72. As if complete with verses ending each line.
No garden wears its lilies better

73. Than pearls from necklaces mid clouds entwined.
The wind traced patterns in its springs

74. As if star rain droplets flowed inside.
At its grounds applause from streams;

75. Garden, birdsong – gentle tones define.
A day whose mood surpasses all temperaments

76. Unlike days exhausting even the generous.
No sun shines brighter than his virtues

77. Unlike days that doubt even the clearest proofs.
No star lies further than his station

78. Unlike days diminishing outreached hands.
Destiny ascended and in each rising sun saw

79. His beauty as if each sun was a mirror!
I recalled intention and gifts bestowed

80. Wherever you are, there gardens and meadows abounded.
O son of praise, if I praise others besides you

81. Then in them flaws, while in you perfection.
I am disposed toward you since through you I access them

82. While only deeds depend on intentions.
God protect you from time’s instability!

83. Scattered parts of your glory now unite.
I frequented your door so time improved for me

84. As rancor faded and hatreds died out.
Eyes spoke to me favorably of you

85. As if stars were ears bent down listening.
I no longer complain of my state

86. If I direct laments to other doors.
Except fools who, if an Investigator spoke

87. None escape his reprimand and blame.
They spout disjointed bits of verse

88. Among poets like garnishing that fills no dish.
Due to ignorance they lay at doors

89. Poems which under scrutiny babble nothingness.
In their empty minds struggles negligence

90. As if frigidity encircled all they state.
Sometimes meaningful words come after fair ones

91. Though faults remain clinging to their shoulders.
I seek refuge for your glory from their prattle

92. As if their meanings were but criminal sins!
Don’t let slight moisture coming their way please them

93. It being sufficient praise to gain your audience.
If by your grace you don’t favor my verse over theirs

94. Then grace has no special favorites!
Far be it from you that poems in your eyes equal

95. Both excellent and pedestrian lines.
Take it as a bride with every limb

96. Captivating, a goblet like Babylon’s glass.
It presented itself to your high threshold

97. Like sailboats wandering the horizons.
A marksman before whose prosody bows

98. As if consonants of script were all dots.
What a worthy lad deserving of speech

99. So thoughts march through the mind like columns.
Praise, when I bestow it on him, ecstasies

100. As if pens lift upright like flutes.
No rain after your rain with benefit

101. Nor confirmation after my words confirming this.
I specified praise for she who has reached

102. The apex of my praise and tools.
So excel and ascend for as long as time remains

103. For through your care lies salvation for religion and world.
You have grasped all places of praise

104. So nothing remains for the eminent to picture.