1. Sleep has banished from my eyes the image of a submissive Muslim
Who has departed from Asma and the caravan slept

2. I and my companions took shelter in the darkness
More delightful with the camel saddle and more comfortable

3. And she asked about me so I said in wonder
As if you don't know how the lovelorn is

4. Spare me the evil look of blame
Perhaps you may have mercy or perhaps you may grieve

5. I am but your slave infatuated with love
And you are but the absolute ruler

6. And I am content with what you are content with, in anger or consent
And I restrain my knowledge that you are unjust

7. I have despaired of justice between me and him
And who can ensure me justice when the opponent is the judge?

8. Events of days have made me forget love
And made death seem sweet and death is bitter

9. By God I have not fallen in love except with a glimpse
And from a fire other than love my heart is kindled

10. Will no messenger convey to al-Husayn my verses
That contain the strung pearls of composed speech

11. Pleasant is life until I see you forbidden to me
And the fire of sorrow flames between us

12. Yet I shall abstain from weeping over you in fear
While my heart weeps and my soul laments

13. If my eyelids incline to blame
And if my heart lapses into pain

14. I shall show the enemies severity towards you
And conceal what God knows and I have known

15. I shall weep for you as long as time leaves me
If tears do not help me, blood shall help

16. My rule is to weep forever over what befalls me
And Labeed's rule for a year is solemn

17. We are but like Wa'il and Muhallal
Pure and perfect is Malik and Mutammim

18. You and I are an eye and its sister
You and I a palm and protector

19. Days accompany us in the guise of an advisor
Yet they divide us though secure

20. How strange are the nights in you, though they
Split us on every path and defile us

21. Raids of events do not cease their delegations
And occurrences of days feed and are fed

22. They have not let me know anything but what I know
Nor taught me anything but what I knew

23. When the nights do not afflict a resolute man
Whose firmness defeats them to defeat

24. War disgraces upon us a dear soul
When praise from it is reaped, plaited

25. I am a fool if I accept a companion
Who displays joy but is gloomy within

26. We are a people whose cups
Are imbued with death and sustenance

27. We looked upon this age and its people
So what it desires and composes seems lowly

28. And we call generous whoever gives from his wealth
And whoever sacrifices the precious soul most generous

29. Why should I not live praiseworthy though my quest
Is far and my actions despicable?

30. If escape does not save one from fate
Patience is best and most wise

31. By God, between departing and returning
We count the raids in the lands and gain spoils

32. And our spears in every hero Persian
Pierce piercings of the skulls and compose

33. We shall strike them as long as the sword stands
And stab them as long as the lance is firm

34. And we track them behind the gulf with resolve
To cross a sea, some of its waves blood

35. With every youth of Nizar and others
Wearing mail forged and riveted

36. And avoid what the prominent and succeeding say
To all the lasting, biting with jaws writhing

37. And we seize the high fortresses, they are
A path to attain the heights and a ladder

38. I saw them seeking vengeance for old offences
And every day the sword takes from them

39. So say to the son of Fuqas, leave war aside
For you are Roman and your opponent Muslim

40. So your face is struck and your mother bereft
Your grandson captive and your wedding thwarted

41. The eggs did not fail you in any battle
But killing the elder among us is sacrilege

42. When our domes are raised above the gulf
And humiliation lies heavy upon you

43. And the king pays the tax of his head to us
And the captives are freed from shackles and released

44. If you wish for peace, then peace is wholesome
And if you incline to security, then security is safest

45. The feats of Sayf al-Dawla's sword, they are
One of the greatest feats you have revealed, nay greater

46. And Sayf al-Dawla's sword has a habit
Aiming for the highest miracles, so it attains them

47. It was called Sword of Guidance, so I said
It does the best of deeds and is most generous

48. Has its resilience from the touch and weight of iron not vanished
Abu Wa'il, while the eggs in the eggs rule?

49. War drags upon it from every side
No weary boredom or bitter griping

50. Brother of resolute deeds, when he comes to battle
A grave event from God comes, decisive

51. We take lightly when our affairs narrow
With the white face of opinion and talk darkens

52. And we cast off a matter we cannot endure
To our Qarama, and Qarama is firmer with the matter

53. To a man who equals you in one body
But in war he is a rampant army

54. Heavy upon the enemies are the heels of his tread
A cross upon their mouths when they mumble

55. And we refrain from some matters in awe
So the conscience knows what is hidden and understands

56. And we avoid crimes against him that disturb him
And sometimes err toward him, so he is forebearing

57. They vie with each other over you to sacrifice
Yet we against our will hope for you and the sinews strain

58. Will you be content if we are made equal with our partner
When glory between the victors is divided?

59. Neither is captivity a loss, nor affliction praise
Nor is victory a gain, and destruction condemned

60. By my life, Ibn al-Saabiqeen is excused if he delays
And you advance though the battalions advance

61. You summoned the coward when the resolve differed
And called the deaf when you became resolute

62. The son of the early vanguards to the heights did not blame you
Some delay while you preceded

63. What prevents you from meeting fate with your endeavor
When you are of those who truly are they?

64. Curse you, O brother, evil has touched you, it is
Time, in both conditions misery and bliss

65. It did not pain me that instead of you I suffer
And surrender myself to captivity and peace

66. I sought you until I had no other desire
And marched until few marched ahead

67. No disability prevented me from catching up with you
But destiny evaded me, unavoidable

68. So if this matter seems long, God is above it
And if the sought seems great, God is greater

69. I indeed conceal in you what is not hidden
And withhold a passion the like of which is not withheld

70. Had I fulfilled your due right I would not
Have a hand write or a mouth speak