1. Your phantom pained me, its visitor at night’s end,
Kept awake till dawn by yearning for you.

2. And morning pursuing night hot on its heels
Seeking revenge on darkness that ensued.

3. The canopy of mist torn from around it,
And gloom uncovered from its cloak of dark.

4. After you left, driving me mad with desire,
With parting, the she-camels bellowed.

5. Parting left in me a burning brand,
The ropes of love still knotted fast.

6. And downpour of tears constantly flowing,
Its substance tempered with painful separation.

7. You could see lightning contained in its clouds,
And remnants of its acid nourished its meadows.

8. Until a reproacher, seeking justice, overtook it,
Matching in saltiness that which suited it,

9. Then a torrential rain poured on it heavily,
To a saturated meadow that would not diminish,

10. From the snorting of a sinewy stallion, its truth evident,
Crashing and thunderous, lightning striking,

11. When it charged or its lightning flashed,
And its heavy rains poured on the ground,

12. And the wildlife competing in its environs
As if driven on by a driver.

13. It yielded its banks to the four directions,
Flooding a meadow embroidered with flowers.

14. The buds of plants flourishing in succession,
Where its rain makes them laugh when it weeps.

15. Its aroma diffuses like musk when inhaled,
As if its meadows were blended within.

16. Clothed by its flowers' splendor the gardens,
Adorned with polished pearls made into necklaces.

17. And it was concerned with arranging its meter,
While passions flocked to its depths.

18. Turtle-doves multiplied in its bosom,
Their wrappings parted from their breasts.

19. As if behind them were their ways of escape,
A banner fluttering for the winds that blow,

20. And a lofty, sublime ridged dune,
Running between the two valley’s bounds,

21. Near the banks, where its waters converge,
Pure and sincere, sound and explicit.

22. Bristling if you defy it, imposing,
Walking with pride and prominent virtue.

23. Excellent in the fray the day battle summoned him,
When night grew dark and daybreak vanished,

24. And the guide of right went astray from its companion,
A night of battle, its stars colliding,

25. And brilliant white like the dawn flashed its blade,
Flowing down the two surfaces of its page,

26. Almost bursting forth from its verses’ seams,
Accompanied on the lengthy journey by its clouds’ tumult,

27. Used to carrying blood-money on its shoulders,
Answering when a desolate land called for aid,

28. Ripping apart the knitted strands of calamities,
A tearful, wounded petitioner knocking,

29. As if borne by its sighing,
I do not fear nor keep company with death,

30. Though death is certain, and all must taste it,
If I am not its fastest fugitive,

31. Each day a companion I bid farewell,
And companions I do not know I make friends with,

32. These are evil times, evil their nature,
And their ways wicked for the youth,

33. Its worst enemies he deems his true friends,
While he is sincere to those who despise him,

34. Suiting their every pleasure, complying with them,
Yet all that displeases them, he shuns.

35. If events should come to pass, or something
Hindered him from some matters,

36. His burden carriers informed me of his worries -
I keep his company through his afflictions,

37. I am true in my love for him, and do not blame him.
My doom, though its gates are open,

38. If its Creator decreed harm, He is my sufficiency.