1. If my complexion were the blackness of hair, it would not be seemly,
And time is known for nothing but shame.

2. It gives endlessly to someone among us,
And takes what it gives without tiring.

3. When white hair and twenty years appeared,
Competing with youth at a leisurely pace.

4. We made whiteness swords placed through
The blackness, so it showed the newness of the inserted thing.

5. If we were to be rescued from illnesses by dye,
Dye would remain longer lasting.

6. Revive gray hair, so a person whose descent is not lowly,
If you do not move away from him to one who moves.

7. And I affirm the lasting color a color time's vicissitudes
Does not change, nor does it blacken with tricks.

8. We present Hittam, and the days overcome us,
While others overcome the days with disappointment.

9. O people of Babylon, my resolve before it my thinking
about misfortunes, and after it my sword my punishment.

10. How many blessings you have! I have their misfortunes.
For you is union with the tender gazelles, and for me separation.

11. They said Khunifah is brave, so I said to them
Total bravery and daring are in states.

12. Why should I blame my time and so rob it
While they refrain though in their hands are my spoils.

13. If the pastures do not distract me from their skulls
When they are scattered, the shortcoming is from me.

14. It is as if I never bared the iron edge of my sword
And never arrived, and the breasts of my spear did not arrive.

15. Nor did I ride at night guiding its planets
To the loved ones, the night riding of the camels.

16. I knocked them while fatigue did not distract their eyes,
And al-Mushrifiyyah was not distracted from vigilance.

17. O time! Difficulty is like misalignment.
Our time is none but Sayf al-Dawlah the hero's sword.

18. I have increased my confusion with you excessively,
You asked us about a generous one, from you he did not ask.

19. He fears you without your fearing him, his ambition
And hopes in you, he who is of bitter determination, impatient.

20. Departed smiting your chests with his realm,
As my poems tower above love poetry.

21. The circling heavens will observe in you a young man
The circling heavens did not observe in Saturn.

22. His bestowal made livelihoods flow from me,
And his glory made the days from my dominion.

23. He did not tarry a day in softness and delight
Unless I spent it contending with lightning in chains

24. The Pataricons have nothing but their captivity
With words without bloody warring with flaming brands.

25. And words suffice a brave one whose breast is bared
Giving him the obedience of the people of plain and mountain.

26. You used to capture them by the sword baring it,
So you came to capture them by fear and alarm.

27. One who sows beating reaps obedience wondrously,
And one who brings up the lofty is safe from stumbling.

28. Your clouds among them were each flashing stroke
Red pouring on hands and skulls.

29. So today your clouds among them are each flashing stroke
Green, raining with wealth and garments.

30. Until the King of the Romans coveted their fortune,
Wishing that he were among them, not ceasing.

31. And he said: Would that I were a substitute for one of them!
Will you see yourself strong in determination for substitution?

32. O King who brings into being his frowning,
And his saying: Charge with what you gave and depart!

33. Direct toward a king who gives gifts like yours,
If you wish the distance to be traversed with luggage.

34. And that you say to me: the waste is someone fearful.
Did you come, O rider of the faded she-camel?

35. If I point out, that is something you do.
Guidance in kindness is like action.

36. And if I seek and do not recognize anyone but you as a man,
Then carry by your bounty my burden and forgive my errors.

37. I do not desire a gift but your munificence,
Smiling at me from what is yours my manned camel.

38. You were generous to me by God until I wearied of it
And I nearly wearied from my weariness to praise stinginess!

39. If you desire this companionship for us,
Then create for us a yearning! Or not, so do not give.

40. Your munificence left me nothing to hope for.
You left me accompanying the world without hope.

41. Forbid death to take our souls suddenly,
For your resolve is firmer than it in appointed terms.

42. So blessings may be perfected for you,
And people safe from poverty and confusion.

43. You have become, of a palm tree the highest elevation,
A head just as its origin is in the lowest of the low.

44. Its leaves Indian iron bared,
And its burden the protective hamzah in its branches the tame.

45. I count the veins of the earth my counting my hands
And counting your superiority something not my work.