1. I turn my glance, but see naught but a scene,
When put to the test, was ever most sore.

2. So the days pass, with their wonted routine,
Will my life thus 'twixt the people outwore?

3. Their assemblies the noble-born shun to frequent,
I grieve for a friend whose return seems prevent,

4. Who did ever prove ready help at the height
Of stress; but God willed that he take his last flight

5. Ere many days passed, and left me forlorn
With no kindly soul, now the days are outworn.

6. When the heat o'er Baghdad is grievous to bear
The great man abides there in comfort and care;

7. No wonder I long from the city to fare,
When to dwell therein is but pain and despair,

8. Now the place to the rabble hath fallen a prey.
Full oft have I crossed the parched desert alone,

9. Where the pitiless sands stretch for miles featureless known,
And stern rising grounds could afford me no stay,

10. But oppose to my progress a barrier alway.
The most arduous paths are by far easier trod

11. Than to bear the vile rule of a chieftain ungodly.
Though numerous his tribe, with their pasturage rife,

12. To the noble soul living with them is but strife.
Awake, O mine eyes, and be watchful at last,

13. On vain dreams of fame let all thought of it pass.
Lo, the days glide away, and my lot fixed for me

14. Is with men I abhor, nor may other fate be.
Dear friend, unto whom honour's garb is no lie,

15. In the dwellings of pride didst thou still sojourn nigh.
Unto thee doth my spirit its message impart:

16. Soul beloved, hast messages there to impart
To a race vile indeed? Dost give ear to their speech?

17. Let me hear in reply what thy heart would beseech.
Full many a waste, lone and barren I've crossed,

18. By perils on every side compassed and tossed.
From all hindrances holding my course without swerve

19. Till faced by unconquered obstacles that curve
Across my lone path like mountains ahead.

20. God pardon the mind that o'er stony wastes strayed!
How oft must I yet roam the wilderness through,

21. Where the soil upflings clouds of fine dust as I sue!
My steps I bent forward intent upon flight,

22. Hoping thus some kind tribe to encounter ere night,
Scions sprung from a noble high-minded race,

23. Right noble of soul, honored pride in their place.
When they give forth their thoughts, like the lightning's red flash

24. Their firm-rooted zeal into flame forth will dash.
Their fame, like sweet incense, rises to fill

25. The heavens sublime, and their eloquence stills.
It tells of the valiant steeds answering their call,

26. The bright weapons fly from the high-vaulted hall.
Sire noble brought them to manhood elate,

27. From a glorious stock did their virtues create.
They are clouds that with rain the parched meadows bless

28. When their aid for high deeds is solicited. Yes!
Best clouds of the tempest, the lightning their hearts,

29. Speeding high o'er the hills where the thunder cloud parts.
Still the might of their hands worketh noble emprise,

30. In days of high purpose their vigor still plies.
See, they swoop on the foeman like lions in wrath,

31. Their bright swords flashing ruin across their dread path!
Old and young in the gloaming as stars gleam bright,

32. Their past mighty deeds are recalled with delight.
They are clouds in their liberality, lavish in wrath,

33. And their blades carve their way through the enemy's path.
My sires! Ever just, loving right, haters of wrong,

34. Still exulting in days when God aideth the strong.
Blest land! Still art watered by brave worthy blood.

35. Thy fair daughters and noble-born sons are thy flood,
Thy honour defending when dangers wax rife,

36. Thy glory upholding care more than their life.
Should foemen assail and o'ercome for a space,

37. Thy lances press onward and win the hard race.
For thee blows the trumpet, thy warriors to form,

38. From Wael's scions, still first in the day battle's storm.
Their war shouts strike terror in stoutest of heart,

39. And their lightning-like onslaught strikes paralyzing dart.
When attacked unprepared they like Fate's hand destroy,

40. As their foes sweep before them like chaff none can stay.
I complain of a people who ne'er bowed the head

41. At wise counsel, but wayward chose courses instead,
So they erred, and chose error for portion selected.

42. Against one, a weak outcast, have they been collected.
To God I complain of their deed without ruth,

43. For their minds by some crazed one have slipped from the truth.
To ambition's wild counsel too ready gave ear,

44. And forgot noble deeds to their lineage endear.
No more are they worthy of glory's bright rays,

45. The path Honor trod they abandoned midways.
Rouse thee, Jealousy, take thou revenge for the shame,

46. To their place lead them back, point ambition's true aim!
Awaken the souls that deep slumbering lie,

47. And launch the steeds onward to victory!
Men noble at heart understand glory aright,

48. And win it full garland or die in the fight.
True glory is theirs who have striven and won,

49. Or the meed that contents the soul glory-hungry.
For glory is naught but a kingdom and might,

50. And days when the noble are lords of their right.
My people! Black tempest, whose fury laid low

51. All caitiffs, base cowards avoiding the blow.
O home of my love! Ties of fond memory bind

52. My soul ever close, and thy visions my mind
With rapture inspire, till I weep at the smart.

53. Not e'en when forgotten, forgotten thou art!
How oft by this camp-site I've stood all forlorn,

54. My sad gaze on ruins around me uptorn,
And wept in regret o'er a desolate scene,

55. Where once flowing waters gladdened valley and green!
But now the bare country stretched lonely anear,

56. And ruined the walls that were built by the seer.
Dear friend, when these ruins thy glances behold,

57. Pity wakes in thy heart, and thy tears as of old
Stream forth. Let us weep for the things that have been!

58. When the grief-laden soul pours its anguish, serene
And refreshed it becomes. List my words that impart

59. All the pangs of my spirit, and ease thus my heart!
Too oft wishful thinking rules reason awry,

60. And the soul of its own bitter poisoning will die.
How my heart aches to think of the friends severed wide!

61. When the soft-blowing breeze brings their vision to chide,
When the lightning's red flash cleaves the black-bosomed cloud,

62. Loved friends that have left me alone to my shroud!
From Baghdad they fled, and my gladness with them,

63. Leaving grief and despair my whole being to hem.
Would that Fate had decreed we need never divide,

64. Would that Destiny ne'er had against me decried!
Though my present friends are the noblest and best,

65. Each a tiger relentless toward foeman unblest,
I spurn all base company, choose allies who vie

66. With each other to conquer or gloriously die!
If shelter and refuge from hurt I'd obtain,

67. In the desert's hot wastes would I dwell on the plain,
Exchanging the haunts of vain pastime for those

68. Far removed from the taints which in luxury rose.
God prosper my soul that disdained to descend

69. To baseness, or walked where dishonor attend!
True glory he sees who boldly defies

70. Fate's hardest decrees, nor seeks flight from its eyes.
He yields not to death till the graves for him yawn,

71. Or blood-drunken falls midst the bodies blood-drawn.
Who seeks after glory must drain sorrow's cup.

72. Who flies shall the ravens of scorn follow up!
Must bear the keen thrusts which their beaks can impart,

73. The vulture's fell claws tear to shreds his faint heart.
My sires faced undaunted the combats that cleared

74. Oppression away, and the tyrant hand feared.
When morning beams gild Mecca's high hill crest,

75. And night's shadows fade slowly away in the west,
When the hand of Oppression shall broken remain,

76. And the days be restored never shadowed again,
The names of my sires shall remembered abide,

77. Their storied exploits ennoble my pride.
I oft call to mind how in regions afar,

78. Rich Perfume breathes round me from sweet blossoms rare
Wafted soft on the breeze; and my heart beats anew,

79. The past blooms like flowers brilliant in dawn's crystal dew.
But now the bare rocks meet my gaze woebegone,

80. No voice cheers my soul in the vastness alone,
No smile gladdens now this poor heart in despair,

81. Thick shadows have fallen o'er meadows once fair.
Dear homeland! Perchance shall mine eyes never more

82. Behold thee again as in bright days of yore,
When perfume of musk filled thy plains blowing free,

83. And my heart like thy flowers knew fragrance and glee.
But now to return I've no hope e'er again,

84. Stern Fate hath decreed we live ever apart.
Thine image will still through the mind's visions gleam

85. When the caravans rest, and night's shadows stream
O'er the slumbering camp, though still distant, more dear

86. Doth thy loved form appear to my spirit sincere.
Thy memory lived shall remain e'er with me,

87. While the pole-star keeps watch o'er nocturnal sea.
The soft breath of dawn shall re-echo thy name,

88. As night's gloomy shadows before it retreat,
As the bark speeds along, thy loved vision shall be

89. The goal of my voyage o'er life's dreary sea.
The days have returned again fair to behold,

90. Thy soft showers with flowers have bordered thy wold,
As thy clouds were spread out in their bounty once more

91. O'er meadows refreshed on thy quickening shore.
Would that Fate had allowed me again the fond right

92. Of beholding the Injeel's fair mansioned height,
And the Nard, breathing round it sweet perfume rare,

93. Its rose fire rekindling with splendor most fair!
Though distant its bowed roof appears now to my sight,

94. Its distance enhovers a clearer delight.
Within thee my life passed serene and complete,

95. Hearing naught but complaints from the conscience effete.
In thee no base outcast e'er raised his vile tongue,

96. Nor unseemly discussion thy pure arbors stung.
How oft my steed bounded o'er thee, glad and strong,

97. When the clear water mirrored the silver moon's sheen!
His galloping hoofs would the bright pebbles wake,

98. As the pure wavelets murmur beside the green brake.
Thy groves I remember, clustered close silvery sheen,

99. Their sweet dropping honey, mysad heart to wean.
But Fate orders Man's footsteps as destinies list,

100. Though together we walked, now asunder we're thrust.
Shall the days e'er restore to these arms thee again?

101. Shall I bask in the smiles of thy loved ones as then?
Hard Fate hath decreed that we ever remain

102. By misfortunes cast down, all uniting in vain.
Our steeds meet no more in the old rendezvous,

103. Where oft they met joyous, both mine and thy view.
Thou abidest afar thinking ever of me,

104. While I in strange lands live, but my thoughts yet with thee.
Shall Fate e'er permit that I see thee once more,

105. And revisit the dear cherished friends I adore?
Cruel Fortune forbids me again to repass

106. O'er the meadows of Nu'man, the hills Dotted grass.
Thine image is sculptured forever in me,

107. In my bosom thine absence a fresh wound will be.
When the soft blowing wind wakes at eve with its sighs,

108. Mine eyes rain their tears down, and sad memory tries
To recall the dear friends from whom parted I grieve,

109. Feeling joyless and lonely thus ever to grieve.
Those dear to my heart turned from me aside,

110. My companions in childhood, and left me. Ah! Cried
My sad heart in its anguish. Why may not our ways

111. Be as one, and our footsteps as one through life's maze?
They desire Syria's fair poetic land,

112. While my soul wanders only where Umman's wold stand.
Shall the days grant, ere yet my course finished on earth,

113. I may revisit again the loved spot of my birth?
Shall I see once again all the friends most admired,

114. In my exile so constant, so fondly desired?
Hard Fate hath decreed that we ever remain

115. Severed wide though our souls still commingling strain.
With the faithful Omman, my steed, still I roved

116. O'er the plains and the valleys, while others I loved,
Were afar journeying on over meadow and height,

117. And our meeting seemed lost in hope's dimming light.
Dost thou still think of me midst new scenes though now set?

118. Still regret the dear homeland thou never canst forget?
Shall the days grant once more I may see thee again,

119. And revisit the dear cherished friends I hold feign?
Cruel Fortune forbids me again to repass

120. O'er the hills spotted grass, the fair meadows of Nu'man.
Thine image is sculptured forever in me,

121. In my bosom thine absence a fresh wound will be.
When the soft blowing wind wakes at eve with its sighs,

122. Mine eyes rain their tears down, and sad memory tries
To recall the dear friends from whom parted I grieve,

123. Feeling joyless and lonely thus ever to grieve.
Those dear to my heart turned from me aside,

124. My companions in childhood, and left me. Ah! Cried
My sad heart in its anguish. Why may not our ways

125. Be as one, and our footsteps as one through life's maze?
They desire Syria's fair poetic land,

126. While my soul wanders only where Umman's wold stand.
Shall the days grant, ere yet my course finished on earth,

127. I may revisit again the loved spot of my birth?
Shall I see once again all the friends most admired,

128. In my exile so constant, so fondly desired?
Hard Fate hath decreed that we ever remain

129. Severed wide though our souls still commingling strain.
With the faithful Omman, my steed, still I roved

130. O'er the plains and the valleys, while others I loved,
Were afar journeying on over meadow and height,

131. And our meeting seemed lost in hope's dimming light.
Dost thou still think of me midst new scenes though now set?

132. Still regret the dear homeland thou never canst forget?
Shall the days grant once more I may see thee again,

133. And revisit the dear cherished friends I hold feign?
Cruel Fortune forbids me again to repass

134. O'er the hills spotted grass, the fair meadows of Nu'man.
Thine image is sculptured forever in me,

135. In my bosom thine absence a fresh wound will be.
When the soft blowing wind wakes at eve with its sighs,

136. Mine eyes rain their tears down, and sad memory tries
To recall the dear friends from whom parted I grieve,

137. Feeling joyless and lonely thus ever to grieve.
Those dear to my heart turned from me aside,

138. My companions in childhood, and left me. Ah! Cried
My sad heart in its anguish. Why may not our ways

139. Be as one, and our footsteps as one through life's maze?
They desire Syria's fair poetic land,

140. While my soul wanders only where Umman's wold stand.
Shall the days grant, ere yet my course finished on earth,

141. I may revisit again the loved spot of my birth?
Shall I see once again all the friends most admired,

142. In my exile so constant, so fondly desired?
Hard Fate hath decreed that we ever remain

143. Severed wide though our souls still commingling strain.
With the faithful Omman, my steed, still I roved

144. O'er the plains and the valleys, while others I loved,
Were afar journeying on over meadow and height,

145. And our meeting seemed lost in hope's dimming light.
Dost thou still think of me midst new scenes though now set?