1. My friends in al-Fayha, though far away
Are ever present, deep in my heart they stay

2. If I cease speaking of you time and again
My poetry of praise for you will never wane

3. By God, nothing can assuage my love's outpour
Except the wine of fellowship we shared before

4. I see each sickness has a cure, a remedy
But nothing cures one drunk except for more drinks freely

5. I bid my soul show patience, perseverance from you abstain
Yet no sooner you left, than all my patience was in vain

6. If the days of fellowship are gone, never more to bless
Then, by God, beyond them, only loss and sorrow I confess

7. For you four, once so verdant, now gone, I weep
How can this life go on, now you aren't here

8. After all the years we spent so near and dear
Clouds from Babylon watered Saadi's garden bower

9. Lightning smiles, raindrops weep, freshening every flower
'Tween Ramlat al-Zaytun and Jisr al-Hajar, in truth

10. Many times, the winds from your land by me have passed
Bearing your town's scents, each inhale unsurpassed

11. Reminding me of days gone by, though I'd not forgot
Renewing memories already unforgot

12. My sheikh, for whom fond love within me dwelt
As though my very soul within your being dwelt

13. Yearning pulls me to your lands, while I fear
The enemy's ruses, so wary I must be

14. Fearing sharp lies upon his tongue will flow
Pretending friendship, while laying traps below

15. I'm no reckless fool to throw my life away
Or struggle to reclaim it, though it holds me in its sway

16. When life's meaning lies in one your heart upholds dear
Wealth is like the alif in amr[i], nothing to fear

17. In Maridin[ii], staunch friends I claim
Binding me fast when fate unties each other bond and claim

18. Kings - when time unleashes its arsenal
In each calamity, my bulwark and defence they shall

19. However much the days spread harm and sorrow
For every hurt, from time's injustice I shall borrow

20. When I cry out, needing succor, they will heal my wounds
When poverty comes knocking, gifts shall surround

21. Their resolve is such that cruelty brings no fear
Their bounty is such, no poverty brings them near

22. With their open hands they've watered their fathers' sapling tree
And now in its branches, fruits of gratitude flow free

23. The Sultan granted me gifts, though difficult to bear
Lightening my burdens, though my back they greatly wear

24. A ruler righteous, bringing ease, relieving every plight
Hardship exchanges for ease; wrongs turn into right

25. My hands now clasp victories, life's darkness turned around
After the bitter days he came, my heart in sorrows drowned

26. The endless nights and more are lost to mem'ry now
In days joy-filled and radiant, my life endows

27. I pitched my tent here in lands where joy and goodness flowered
Were it not for him, I never would have from Egypt powered

28. Save one, no place brought regret for where I strayed
My life I spent, though in lands that prosperity evade

29. None like Paradise, except his name[iii] and fame
Not really heaven's eternity, but the palace just the same

30. A valley, though not where Layla[iv] poured out her woeful strains
But streaming waters flow over rocks untouched by rains

31. As if the clouds are mocking in their thunder, lighting-laced
Only at his command their weeping is replaced

32. Branches entwine, dropping curtains of leaves each dawn
Shielding the gardens in veils of emerald, verdant and fawn

33. When the sun's ropes o'er it slip off, pulled far away
Its nets of light on his gardens their sparkling jewels lay

34. Coffee beans from Dayr Shahlan[v] we mill and grind
Presided by the priests' hands, their every movement refined

35. When we imbibe its stimulant, senses delight
Secrets rise to peak awareness, our thoughts take flight

36. We regale with humorous tales and witty banter yet
Grace it with fine poetry and prose, this drink we met

37. Savoring life's pleasures, each moment a joyous sip
Snatching blissful hours from fated hardship's grip

38. In his glory, spring has blanketed us with floral cheer
At first rain, petals and buds always appear

39. Glorious patron, your merit beyond all measure
Eludes full enumeration, transcends words' treasure

40. I transmit these verses, so longing you to salute
Though your august qualities no poem can compute

41. Most wondrous! Though I'm awake, lucid and bright
I offer you my gems, recite my spells just right

42. Please, may you always favor me, your grace never sever
Consult your wisdom what action now is clever