1. He watered it, greeted its soil, and the rain of droplets fell,
And if it became barren in a barren task,

2. Time has covered it, covering the meager dress,
And there is no unfolding for what is folded.

3. The resting places of lions and the refuge of foxes
Neighbors in its plains, the ghoul and the burrow.

4. The star nearly goes astray in its flat lands,
And the moon escapes from its darkness in fear.

5. The hands of time have done to its features
What fate does to the free.

6. I stood in its wilderness in the night,
Its desolation provoked the deep anguish in my chest.

7. I remembered the old days that have passed
Of which there remains naught but regretful memories

8. And a life we thought a garden of beauty
Which time has dressed in evanescent flowers.

9. So I began weeping while sorrow followed sorrow
Until I saw the very rock weeping unto the rock

10. And the afflicted has no stratagem
Save outpourings that overflow his intestines or tears that flow

11. And I have not found of things anything more intimate in the night,
Which the darkness has extended, silvery in the courtyard of the palace,

12. As if the stars in the expanse of its heavens
Are ships of chaos sailing on a river

13. As if the Pleiades in the dimness is a bird
Whose edges are studded with scattered pearls

14. As if the meteor is the truth that falsehood
Rushed towards so it cast its trailing robe

15. As if the darkness is ember that crept in its blackness
And from dawn came fire that turned into cinders

16. As if the breeze of dawn in the air is a thought
Of poetry flowing in the expanse of reflection

17. And in the palace between shade and water is a maiden
Who sways without drunkenness and turns away without arrogance

18. She shows you speaking eyes, silent,
So whatever you wish of wine and whatever you wish of magic

19. I sported with her until the night spent itself
And fate led it into the shroud of dawn

20. By your life, no crazed passion took my mind
Nor did the chapter of wine dispute me

21. Neither did fervor provoke me nor a beloved’s abode
A sheltering, but thus is the way of poetry

22. And whoever has a spirit like my spirit, a talent
For cares that pays no heed to union or separation

23. As if I had not lived thirty pilgrimages
Nor did the thought of white hair in my hair once flow

24. Brother of a hundred that walks sure-footed as if
When walking in the plain or rugged terrain

25. If the heart of man grows young, his hopes grow young,
His passion grows young while in the prime of life

26. I lived with my hopes but when they betrayed me
I was content and paid no heed to much or little

27. And I became hoping for naught
Save the draught I taste when I taste the repose of the grave

28. And life of man is but wishes
If they are lost then life follow in succession

29. May God reward despair well with me
It spared me what the dashed hopes had cast

30. And restrained my resolves towards fate and its judgements
With what it willed of justice and what it willed of tyranny

31. So I am not if time be displeased
Nor am I if time be deluded

32. If an ignorant faultfinder attacks me
His criticism does not disconcert my composure

33. I return to myself, if he spoke true
I blame myself and correct my affair

34. Else what is my sin to people if their desires ruled
Content with neither good nor evil

35. I ask you to pardon me, worries can sometimes
Make one lose composure from what he knows not

36. And I greet meeting with you complaining
You who inspired me the trait of patience

37. And you made me land safely in the sea of your knowledge
I avoided there disbelief in what calls for gratitude

38. To you belongs the strong, dried pen
That rid its ink of the polytheism that made white and black weary

39. If the night of doubt covers with its darkness
The dawn of signs and proofs appears

40. To you belong the lofty pride and sublimity
Before which bows the forehead of brilliant stars

41. And the Owner of the Throne who dons His crown
Is no more glorious than you in theatrics of pride

42. And what a difference between a throne of wood and stone
That is built, and a throne of glory and mention!

43. And what a difference between the glory of religion, knowledge and piety
And the glory of palaces, authority and splendid edifices!

44. To you belongs gratitude without denial
With most eloquence and good tiding

45. When people hasten to noble deeds you attain them
With resolute determination that does not tire from counting

46. So you remain guiding and you remain leading
To betterment setting forth and to righteousness rising

47. And celebrations continue to arrive in succession
With what you will of might and what you will of life