1. She turned away, though nothing made her turn but to see
The henna-dye upon my head appear.

2. Woo her on a moonless night when she cannot
See except when the lantern helps her peer.

3. Gray hair's a malady that beauties bitterly mourn
When it appears, though the ache helps no tear.

4. My nearness troubles them; though bold,
Their distance and my silver locks they cheer.

5. Why are you puzzled by a lovely whiteness which
Brought my dream and parted my dark hair?

6. I'm changed but for the best. My white replaces
The black and sheds on me its luminous glare.

7. Vainly you trust the inconstant heart which left
The weak me for the harsh and stony wear.

8. You torment me, your love's as painful mixture
As cups of blight between the draughts of cheer.

9. Some hound, maddened by foolishness, dared worry me,
Snarling, till I broke its fangs and mouthbones sere.

10. It clamored till I don't know what. Its bell amid
My other bells rang punily on my ear.

11. Say to whoever's incapable of rising to my level:
"O far are you from the mounts where glory nears!"

12. Where is your branch to my branch? Your base origin
To my base? Foundation? Lineage? Peer?

13. You rouse some burdened camels, goading them
With slimy prods by a foul guide, I fear.

14. Men you are — can you listen to any true reproach,
To reasons that should pour into your ears?

15. Like a lost camel led into misleading paths
By shadowy night whose darkness it reveres,

16. Darkness has hid the road which would have led
Aright, and so it ambled led by seers.

17.
We are a folk of probity. Meet us straight.

18. Deviousness is for the vile, we never veer.
We drag our robes majestic as a lion drags

19. Its train midst foxes trotting through their smear.
No blemishes can touch our fair name. Nor do we dream

20. Of wearing a garment that is stained or seared.
Our noble neighbor deems us always with the best,

21. Pitched in good tents, no humble cloth or gear.
I fear the warning signs. A day will come armored

22. With death, when the wise fool confounds the seer.
The spearhead, soaked in earth, spawns dragon's teeth which write

23. With quills of tombs on scrolls you hold so dear.
One day you'll witness what you wish of severed wombs,

24. Of couching lions tearing with fang and sheer.
Cast not my counsels like seeds in barren land,

25. Thrown away in sand no rain or stream cheers.
Be not like him who knew no peace or war's vicissitude

26. In fate's hour, nor what follows the secure.
Man but recalls the present. All things end as

27. Fate dictates. Man is slave to its career.