1. My young companion of morning draughts has left me,
My lot is care, and toil without relief.

2. He was erect in frame, and beautifully moulded,
Like a castle that the breeze shakes into ripples.

3. As though in his mouth lay, beyond the white fence,
Wine whose seal musk had set on the flasks.

4. When he came in his beauty to visit me,
Snatching my reason, but not my heart's troth,

5. The night was not long in its cover of gloom,
And the daybreak not bright in its silver whiteness;

6. The full moon, when it faced me, travelling,
Seemed to carry his tent-ropes over its shoulder.

7. He mingled for me, from his saliva, gentle wine
Sweetened by the son of al-Muzain, perfect in grape.

8. In a garden I had not known, he left his traces,
Making the rose smile there, and the branches lament.

9. Lightning slips played on the stream from his hand,
Willow-wand, fashioned of silver, tipped with gold.

10. As though his runnel were lines of writing
Flowing over the gravel that carried their form.

11. The narcissus looked at his bent branch and leaned
Toward lips opened in thirst at the pool.

12. The anemone, freshened in color, was shaken
As the melody alighted and stirred on its stem.

13. The rose tells the story of his cheek’s down,
Scattered, O prodigal loosener of hair!

14. He is friend of high places, drawer of trains
Bestower of lavish gifts, worthy in deeds.

15. A horseman whose steed is whitest of all,
Ostrich-plumed; neither boon-fellow nor outcast.

16. My heart is on fire from his maxim, deterring
Transgression; his purpose vanquishes armies.

17. His radiance outshines the full light of morning,
His wisdom shows dark tribulation the way.

18. Diver in seas of munificence, rain-cloud of gifts,
Star of glory's height, scion of noblest stock,

19. Of countenance white foretelling delight,
Of sword-blade red speaking of wounds.

20. By his safety is gained all that we hope for,
By contention with him comes heavy defeat.

21. The best in wisdom hastens to greet him.
Orator mounted on pride for a camel-ride,

22. If those who surpass in their gifts have precedence,
There is no doubt by whose spring men take water.

23. Graceful toward gratitude, not toward ignorance,
Gratitude, in the noble, itself is expected.

24. Upholder of Islam, from whom I have gained
High excellence, lordly position and rank!

25. O whose nature is sweetness composed,
As if molded from a magical compound,

26. By God, ere the dew has descended from night,
The embassy travelers take joyful leave,

27. Resolute like fire, chieftains
Who, if cast in the sea, would enflame it!

28. Lion for protectors, when roused to anger,
Deluging rain when defenders show weakness.

29. Not one who appealed to you at the shrines
Came for naught or departed denied.

30. O rider who leaves in the dawn, travelling
On his she-camel, more nimble than fox,

31. Stay far from that tribe, and incline
To one never implored for a gift.

32. The shelter of praiseworthy religion and laws
Killer of despots, lover of noble minds,

33. Whose clouds, when they drop on the hills
Embrace them, and bow, and then slip away,

34. Whose lightning smiles and laughs,
Whose thunder steps out and is gone.

35. One day may he rain on the seeker his gifts
Like the downpour of clouds in flood.

36. Then wisdom will show you no bound to his thought,
And none will have trodden his precinct before.