1. Come and listen to a riddle that spurned all defect
For it refined meaning as it perfected form

2. The airy, proud-branched palm, its flourishing is healing
Like the blade of a sword, tireless in its dance

3. As though it has, by the Pleiades, a darling
It strove to take her into its embrace

4. The sun stretched out its fiery hand to its orb
To warm it from the coldness of its water pure

5. It reckons what fear shows on earth’s cheek
Is from its bite, imprinted there obscure

6. To the highest horizon it climbs, lofty
And we see the ear of corn in its ear mature

7. The belly of the earth groans from its heavy tread
As the sky above it chokes, no longer demure

8. It scatters pearls of dew on the plain’s sheen
Too many to count, no mind can endure

9. Around it tender branches bloom anew
With a tuft become its ring, a perfect cure

10. Bowing down before it, humbled, are the three date palms
That spurned all defect, this I ensure

11. With it travelled He by night with His servant
From the Far Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, so pure

12. By the hand of Abdullah and his noble friend
Who blessed his people, shunning the obscure

13. With the flowing waters of Jiran, his generosity
Gives freely, seizing wealth not to immure

14. The full mosque fluttered its eagle there
In fresh plumage, after barrenness mature

15. And he bellowed as he paved its ground
The brick embracing plaster, charm secure

16. When its walls were bare, it was clad
At his decree, in marble bright and demure

17. His prosperity endured for the minister’s days
Justice, safety and ease here endure

18. In all matters successful, divinely blessed
His counsel unfailing, his rule we endure