1. The journey, sorrow and passion have made her lips pallid
Separation and blame have made her sick

2. How often has she attended to urgent affairs and crossed barren lands!
The valleys and flags have complained of her

3. So be gentle with her, for if you contemplate
Her condition closely, she is sick with passion

4. She has made her watering place a cloud of dust
Can tears quench intense thirst?

5. How much she has suffered for the family of Mayya
And conveyed lessons of pain through her teachings

6. The day the fever appeared, I said to my companions
“This is their abode and those are the tents”

7. So we shed tears of passion
Thinking the tears would help build structures

8. The dwellings spoke to us though they were silent
For some silence is speech

9. They reminded us of her - may a life with her endure
What life remains when days are gone?

10. We did not realize until she departed and avoided us
That our days with her were but dreams

11. When she revealed herself to us from behind the veil
A vision whose veil was made of glass

12. O what an hour in the intimate gathering!
Wine cups appeared and reappeared

13. But misfortune's hands snatched her away from us
Just as the vile take away beauty

14. We seek of fate to turn back time and return her
To quench the thirst just like a mirage

15. By my soul my precious one I would sacrifice
So my heart is confused in love for her

16. And my craving to sip from the wine of delight
Has made that wine the object of envy

17. O gazelle whose eyes in ransom I give my heart
Were those amorous glances or arrows you released?

18. I desired passionately and melted in love for you
Yet my passion falls short of appropriate

19. How can the secret of love be hidden from all
When tears of the passionate are ever telling

20. The caravan camped for a night and seemed settled
But still the abode of my beloved is not home

21. So cease your jesting when matters turn serious
Jesting in such a state brings blame

22. And seek honor with spear and lance on horse
For might fades like the plucked flower

23. So pursue what you wish and attain high ambitions
Nothing equals the spear and steed in that quest

24. And hold onto steadfastness and deliberation
For they are means to dignified ends

25. And if someday boldness sprouts in you
I see glory lies in daringness

26. Repel evil when you know evil comes
Oftentimes poison dispels poison

27. So when great courage swells your determination
Even momentous affairs seem slight

28. Plan first before battles with careful thought
Without sound plans clashes bring no results

29. Many a view in discourse has done what
Neither steadfastness nor zeal could attain

30. And beware the treachery of ignoble souls
To them betraying a friend brings notoriety

31. And prepare for battle with words that provoke
Only bones make strong bodies

32. Do not blame one who plunges into the fray
Every coward among doves is still a dove

33. And be patient - sorrow but a cloud in summer
And my Lord rightly judges all affairs