1. Observe, O glancing eye, am I living in your eyelids or a picture?
We used to wish we could see them

2. And our glances were jealous over them
If we hadn’t been far away for long

3. Our plentiful tears would have protected them
The place of my loved ones had lacked them

4. So how did it stay after they left?
Yes, when the memories of Layla’s houses awoke,

5. And the passion of youth was longing and wakefulness,
And why wouldn’t I yearn for a country

6. Where its beautiful scenes delighted the caravans?
And ruins neighboring Layla’s house

7. Were watered, so proximity was beneficial.
Her imagination visits me every night

8. And I would have been satisfied with that pilgrimage.
Now that her beauty was perfect, what more

9. Could a bracelet or necklace do?
The pearls were put to shame the day they appeared,

10. And the stars of the night shame the daylight.
I ransom the one whose reserve and resolve

11. Were sufficient for the mountains of the earth and the seas.
For no lord of the world but Him,

12. His glory and pride last forever.
In the land of sight, I am disgusted with the time

13. That does not pity and is not pitied.
When the sun sees me looking sad she turns away

14. Her glance turns away from me confused.
He is tall with palaces on his shoulders,

15. Smooth with youths crowning his head.
The impossible goals attempt to outrun him

16. While the possibilities and probabilities try to catch up.
We hoped to inspire him but he has no need

17. For wishes or waiting for inspiration.
His steeds measure the enemy’s land,

18. And were it not for wounds, there would be no rewards.
His arrows mark a place with no guide,

19. No banners waving and no minarets rising.
The brightness of his front teeth guides them

20. And the light of his front teeth grants them success.
Friends of the night flow through him

21. As secrets flow into the ear.
Seekers who are not discouraged by enemies

22. And effort that is not hindered by obstacles.
When they saw the darkness of night on the battlefield

23. Chasing away the daylight,
The spies turned away angry

24. Like the whistling arrow driven by the dust.
When feet stumbled and eyes stared

25. And reins were let loose,
Confusion mingled with joy and fear

26. As if their ropes were cut by saws.
Charms are dissolved in his assailment

27. And poison is boiled and sorcery nullified.
The lord of Iraq harbored enmity against it

28. And the weak feared it would be their end.
He imagined its armor was smoke

29. And that its clothes contained embers.
It did not harm the stars when they rose

30. To your eyes though they seemed small in it.
Victory doubted when he saw it

31. Following its tracks raising the dust.
He exchanges insults and does not know

32. That the shame of insult is in fleeing.
Why are the tips of each sword made

33. To seem like water to the eye when it is fire?
He regained consciousness biting his hand in regret,

34. For the misery of wine is intoxication.
Whenever cups were passed around

35. And joints were burdened with burdens,
He consulted his passions in his decisions

36. And every passion consulted is an enemy.
The gloom of pleasures was removed from him

37. And he had no reward but pleasures.
Sleepers who had good expectations of fate

38. But some doubt is weakness and deception.
They forgot, though patience is evidence for them,

39. Sins that no apology can erase,
And promises whose response in speech

40. Is shunned by forbearance and dignity.
By God, they were not forced into it,

41. Though affliction itself is compulsion.
You have tasted slight injury so you belittled it

42. Though the sting of a snake is not to be belittled.
You slept feeling safe from men

43. Whose sleep when they feel safe is deception.
Either death is sweet or

44. Humiliation is bitter and trivial.
So you have not recognized short ambitions,

45. Nor what lofty ambitions seek.
And everything you hid was exposed

46. By a young man whose enemy’s secret is announced.
Every neighbor of anything

47. Is a plotter against it and its neighbor.
Some of you have cast aspersions at others

48. So safety fell asleep and caution woke up.
Judicious opinion was enough for him in battle

49. Where worries whirl and eagles swoop.
Free from needing you, O summits,

50. Or from foolishness in your ruggedness, O cliffs.
Or from an army that says to him, “We were victorious,”

51. Then where are the brigades of Malik and the elite force?
When your might fails you and you are persecuted,

52. Then there is no triumph in persecution.
Your patience before your authority is wisdom,

53. And your pardon after your power is capability.
I think time has brought us

54. What it intended as harm.
So there is no requester that we say has succeeded

55. In what he was given or borrowed.
What can we rely on from one who is unreliable

56. Whose nights, however long, are short?
Its beginnings are confusion and deception

57. And its outcome advice and lesson.
The sorrowful of the earth return to it smooth

58. And after its bounty the seas run dry.
Things that perplexed minds,

59. And others that covered people in ignorance.
They say, “Thus the stars decide,”

60. Yet God decides, not the rotating celestial sphere.
We are equal in His will,

61. And we have no choice in the matter.
Convey to a people who sought our downfall

62. And thought our resolve was to be disgraced,
We have triumphed over your time with a life

63. Where hardship is equal to ease.
For man is not rich unless he is self-sufficient,

64. And his need for something is want.