1. I smelled a breeze of your affection, giving life
To a dead person or an old man becoming youthful

2. It flowed and brought life into my body
And returned what was in my heart

3. And the night of separation seemed long
Because I did not place anyone besides you

4. So O eyes, enough shedding tears of sorrow
And lids, enough covering, for you have cried enough shooting stars

5. And O tears, what has happened is enough for me and enough for you
For I was but a pouring raincloud and you pouring showers

6. Perhaps the long nights blamed me out of mercy
For what afflicted me and how good is blame

7. And for separation I have a hand
I forgave it when we met again for the sin

8. That's because nearness to you has worn
Beauties we did not know to be part of nearness

9. So one who has not tasted the flavor of connection
Will not feel comfort in venting, or taste anguish

10. The slanderer threatens me with parting from my loved one
So I said, "If they increase estrangement, I will increase love"

11. And if they cut me off in passion, I would be pleased
If they cut a limb, I would extend a limb

12. And the day their traveling party set out while preventing me
From following the traveling group

13. I stood as if lost in an uninhabited territory
When thirsty, asking the raincloud for the sweet watering place

14. When the heat of passion scorched his face
He remembered that shade and sweet stream

15. Are you not my life? And without you life
Is taken away, as you know, by force

16. Do I not suffer being far from you and blame myself
Not blaming the one who rode the sin

17. So O slanderer, if you wish then show self restraint
For even war desires peace from the one who sparked it

18. And do not be excessive in love and hate
For perhaps one you hate will love you and one you love will hate you

19. And whoever sees things happen but forgets they change
Sees every easy thing out of its difficulties as difficult

20. Matters do not seem small in Ahmed’s eyes
Except contemplating consequences

21. A king whom nature clothed with forbearance and dignity
And earned them through effort, not fearing they be stolen

22. Events humble themselves to him, and the horizon
Seems to grow, if it draws nearer out of wonder

23. And good news comes to him but he is not shaken by it
Its joys have thrilled the East and West

24. What is forbearance but to see anger and pleasure
So he forgives, noble, not bothered or tired

25. The son of Ismael is the king who
Frightened the kings of the world, non-Arabs and Arabs alike

26. And gave security to all on earth, so sheep in the wilderness
Are not afraid of the wolf eating them due to his might

27. When the Victorious King’s flag fluttered
The hearts of dissenters fluttered from fear of it

28. Were the whole earth to be within his cloak
There would be neither farness nor nearness to him in the world

29. We have seen remarkable feats, if we had heard of their like
In the past we would have called history and books liars

30. His noble deeds ransom him when a difficulty arises
And shake off calamity the day it stirs, like dust from his armor

31. Elevating him until he looks down
From a height when he wishes to gaze at the stars

32. So say to the kings of China, scheme against other than him
And weaken with your scheme the worshipper’s plot against his Lord

33. He built fortresses, rather homesteads and dwellings
Of ships flowing with the wind wherever it blew

34. Edifices with ceilings higher than their walls
Protecting what is above and beside them

35. Calling them Zanj, meaning
They have no fear of the sea though standing over it

36. You see the fish beside it as wide as its breadth
An armspan that strikes awe into the onlooker if it hits a person

37. On each beam between two boards is a third
Holding together its structure so it remains erect

38. Lined with Chinese tiles protecting it
From water, so nothing inside can get wet

39. Impenetrable, having no fear of siege
Stone throwing or tunneling from the sea

40. If catapults hurl boulders at it
It repels them with palms lifting above

41. They came to you deluded by its invincibility
And the great number of soldiers it amassed

42. Then it showed them what they did not expect
Afflictions poured over them from above

43. Battalions arose against them like lions
Stabbing with the blades of Qina and striking with Indian swords

44. The Indian iron wreaked havoc among them
Annihilating some by eating and some by drinking blood

45. They thought the smoke of naphtha would help them
When they launched those cannons and guns

46. Alas! The fire of the sword moves faster in destruction
Than naphtha in eating turbans and caps

47. I destroyed them capturing some, killing some, none surviving
Except those with paralyzed hands or fleeing mounts

48. When they saw a little of your good fortune
Fear filled the heart of China's king

49. He was certain after doubt of ruin and demise
And admitted what he had thought to be lies

50. He woke up carefully checking the routes
Fearing your army would appear and inquire about travelers

51. Had Saint Peter the tax collector come to him
He would have told him the tax owed!

52. You continue to be blessed daily with favors
From God - no king is blessed like you

53. And your gratitude calls for increase and His grace
While gratitude is to call upon one's companion