1. The seeker of love without a protector,
The bearer of love without a helper,

2. What is for he who entrusts his love to tears
Flowing and a sighing heart?

3. He is between a long night’s life
Suffering, and a short day’s life.

4. I do not say the journey has deprived my eye of sleep,
Affliction had reached its peak before the journey.

5. O bending branch beneath fragrant boughs
Bending beneath a shining full moon.

6. How much the nights have changed you after me
O little loyal, matchless one.

7. My description is yours and my poetry is yours
I know not how to describe the unruly, unbridled one.

8. And my heart is preoccupied with your beautiful face
From the love of the girls of these palaces.

9. I have granted sleep to a waking eye
That slept devoid of what hurts my conscience.

10. May God not test one who loves with love
And heal every abandoned lover.

11. Since you left, I have a sick body
And a crying forsaken one and a humbled prisoner.

12. O brother, O Abu Zuhair, is there no
Help from you against the sly gazelle?

13. You have never ceased to be my confidant in all matters
My supporter, my weapon and my helper.

14. Gifts have come to me, O cousin
Passing in silks and satins.

15. In phrases sweeter than cold water
And words like scattered pearls.

16. Flawless, which al-Farazdaq and al-Akhṭal fell short of
And surpassed Jarir’s poetry.

17. You are the lion of battles and the protector of foes
And the rescuer of the anguished and the seeker of refuge.

18. You have excelled in striking to be unmatched
And transcended in supremacy without peer.

19. You have tested me while you are of great wisdom
Good in every great matter.

20. And if you, my cousin, are content
With my answer, you would be content with the feasible.

21. My longing has stirred for you when
The longing of the forsaken, abandoned one came to me.