1. Whether the heart whispered to her secretly or openly
Oh, how I wish I knew what caused the estrangement

2. And he left like a deaf rock, his heart
Upon a servant who was content with his wages

3. As if her father were the full moon or her mother the starry Pleiades
Innocent, not knowing falsehood or pretense

4. Yet ignorant she is not of loss and sorrow
By the life of love, no excuse but nature

5. For one with downcast eyes living secluded in a palace
Her youth made her forget her loyalty, so she denied

6. My affection and accepted no apology or excuse
As if I never entered her protection or tasted

7. Her sweetness or drank wine with her
I looked at her with tears in my eyes and my love

8. Shattered, filled with burning coals
And I said oh slender as a spear, I have not

9. Moved an arm's length or handspan from peace
Make amends, be gracious, show me favor

10. With one good day to spoil this estrangement
Why should wrong deny my words

11. And claim generosity itself is blasphemy
When God has promised the generous paradise

12. Whose lodging leaves one neither hungry nor bare
Strange that your hair is loose yet

13. My chains, fetters of captives, are not loosed
More wondrous that one slighted like me

14. Should be consoled or tormented or spurned for your sake
She replied, the stars of her tears flowing

15. Down her cheeks until I fancied them a mouth:
Your verse, o fool is worthless raving

16. For Syria's governors know no poetry
Have you no wealth, no glory for me

17. That sorrow and want fill your home?
Choose the best of capitals to enrich me

18. There, attaining bounty, I said Egypt
For the blessing of Ismail dazzles life

19. And triples the blessed Nile and sea
Scion of kings whose generosity still

20. Spreads their name in every kingdom
His awe makes bones quake, yet his

21. Gentleness brings safety and healing
How many a thirst he quenched, how much want assuaged

22. How many bonds he broke, how many breaks he mended
The Lord of the Throne gifted him a named sword

23. And instilled in the sheen of his face victory
And brought him out to all blessed

24. More radiant than the Pleiades gaining thanks
The Sudan were civilized by his wisdom

25. Nearly making the night regain the dawn’s blush
No longer does the strangled slave in the ground

26. Widen a burrow after dwelling in the palace
A wise doer, knowledgeable in politics

27. When he spies fires, he leaves them be
His persistence benefited the land, his justice

28. All people, so he rose above Hatem and Suraya
Where are they compared to a superior generous one

29. Who permits his petitioners joy and pride?
Holier and more reverent before God

30. Cleaner of train, sweeter of perfume
Vaster of breast, wider of refuge

31. Impregnible neighbor and loftier in worth
The Master celebrated with His care

32. May He be the servant who composed verse
I came to Syria with my horses only for a king

33. Whose bounties blanketed Egypt
Ally of the Commander of the Faithful, his sword

34. His supreme proof and his great mercy
I plunged into your sweet sea with my worries

35. Its surges Syria and I dared the ocean
And one like you who quenches the thirsty with his clouds

36. Is perfect, dispelling care, grief and want
You remain for us pride to humiliate foes

37. And ease to relieve hardship