1. From that delightful horizon shining bright
If only bliss would keep it shining through the night

2. Unceasing flashes of lightning illuminate
Enticing us to one who feels no such delight

3. Scarce had the darkness come than I thought I spied
A black man on the horizon, his teeth shining white

4. He slipped amid the darkness like an ungainly calf
Tended in the radiant dawn with careful sight

5. His eyes unlined by kohl he passed the night awake
As though beside a beloved bedmate clutching tight

6. Those burnt with yearning while the night dragged on
Are set alight within recalling your sweet sight

7. The sleepless lover tossed in thoughts of you
Is pierced by phantoms of your beauty shining bright

8. I'd flee a heart enflamed in love for you
Disputing, with tears for you in ceaseless flight

9. Amid the lofty ceilings is renewal of affection
I'll forge while graceful branches sway upright

10. The delicate wrist in bracelets confined
Disturbed the sleeve's array, provoking eager bite

11. The languid glance inclines to the lovely brow
When the coy eyelash moves with glance polite

12. With gentle bending arm the wristband slips
Its fastener loosed, protesting loud its plight

13. Overcome by heady youth the branch will bend
Just like the bough with ripening fruit hangs light

14. This fervor is not what desire is used to
But raving lunacy past reason taking flight

15. Would that the spring renewed your haunts anew
Primping and preening meadows to your heart’s delight

16. Our nights with you and joys are gone, while sorrow
Parts and splits asunder all once joined so tight

17. To the rival racing to the farthest goal
Where fervor at its peak exhausts the eager knight

18. Your efforts fall behind Ja'far ibn Hubayrah’s pace
While the ignorant suppose you'll match his flight

19. Perhaps you thought that his renown could be defamed
To the farthest time that memory holds him bright

20. He's of a nature like the meadow, generous
When the day ignites with searing summer heat's harsh bite

21. Like the reddening cloud, his bounty pours
Like beauty's downpour, gifts both far and wide

22. Like a brilliant star, praised amidst the clamor
Its bright beams shining through the darkest night

23. In discord his gentleness, more forceful
Than the sword's sharp edge, proves kinder might

24. Of lasting glory, planted in the soil of honor
His roots nourish branches rising noble, upright

25. The edifice of glory built lofty within them
Embellished with great deeds, most gracious sight

26. The quintessence are they; his spirit their core
Eyes delighting, on their friends bestowing light

27. When from the dawn his fortune's starred horizon rises
The full moon rises upon you, glowing bright

28. Though awe may fill the heart at his majestic sight
The gaze was gentled by his cheerful light

29. Drawn tight the headdress between highborn ranks
The crown between two swords shines graceful, bright

30. He has a caution that sends cowardice fleeing
Like a sharp-clawed lion, no spineless flight

31. He hits his target speaking true with equity
Vanquishing the enemy’s deceit outright

32. He obeyed kindness in its first steps, and his vow
An unceasing cloud of rain pouring forth its might

33. A bucket, once lowered, gushed an abundance
His irrigation enriched you, fresh and bright

34. When he wished, he led the lame like horses
While doves and rock-doves winged in joyous flight

35. Whenever horsemen approached a troop
You deployed, meeting the blades' thrust and bite

36. You led their steeds ahead, a searing flame
Racing the winds, surpassing them in might

37. You went beyond to seize the foe's fifth share
While his tents and canopies shone brightly dight

38. When you approached them, I said, "A troop
Of wild cows nears a hillside robed in white"

39. God protected Abraham from the tyrant kings
His defender, merciful Ja'far won the fight

40. Ja'far restored the ties of kinship to Arqam's clan
Though the earth's expanse tired those who would unite

41. Such is the view of al-Hibrri if he opines
And the honesty of al-Alma'i so upright

42. On every bit of him, a glance that stares
Surveys the far horizon with discerning sight

43. Wearying those of Kharura, the hot brand of censure
Binding firm the pact, with reason's might

44. Among them many whose heated talk bubbles forth
And a tribe whose judicious speech shines bright

45. They see in Abraham an arrow Ja'far feathers
To pierce their foes with darts dealing mortal blight

46. In his fiery youth his aid and guidance
Corrects and grants him triumph shining bright

47. The scent of aloeswood wafts sweet from good mention of him
As the pure musk’s essence perfumes with delight

48. And the earth there exhales a scent from the horizons of night
Like the diffuse fragrance the gum resins alight

49. Bestowing upon all in that land till satisfied
As camphor crystals spread in profuse flight

50. Does his resolution or his tenderness console them,
His fairness or his mercy grant respite?

51. Power’s glory resides within them, and you’ve not ceased to be
The precious pendant under his wing shining bright

52. By God, Ja'far did not neglect you for an instant
Nor spend a night consumed with love and fervent spite

53. In the far Maghreb the lofty regiments collapse
When they face his blade; in the east his day is bright

54. Returning, his success will gratify and delight you
Reuniting ties unity had put to flight

55. It will heal the longing you have borne with his return
And relieve a heartache stirring restlessness at night

56. It will delight the Zab's land with happy tidings
As blossoms gild it, graced in beauty’s dress bedight

57. Yours are blessings; my hands have overreached
While time's hands tore my purpose to blight

58. Some of what you have granted is enough; permit this caravan
Bound by your grace to travel in seemly plight

59. You have bestowed gifts on me though I did not ask
I thought your sea would drown me in its might

60. I will thank you for blessings upon me though I
Unable to match your renown have lost all might

61. No speech grows like praise that exalts its subject
Nor seems as true as a fair outstretched hand in bright sight

62. Neither I nor my like and what we say
Unless I habitually match the words to truth's light