1. The house is hushed in silence
Deafened against the voice of any caller

2. Yet I have eyes that barbs of blame
Cannot prevent from shedding tears for it—

3. A mansion once whose cheerful fortune fled
Now wears what mourning weeds are left instead!

4. When I glance towards it with these streaming eyes
Down either cheek a welling tear-drop flies.

5. Of its erst bloom there does not now remain
Except some scattered petals on the plain,

6. Once redolent with fragrant aloes’ store;
Gone is the perfume that they once outpour!

7. Its like bore sway, so noble was its mien,
That all around paid fearful homage then,

8. And I—so long its towering height did daze—
Grew numb before the marvel of its ways.

9. I made a hot-blooded youth its friend,
Bulwark against its foes, all quarrels’ end,

10. Then deaths came, loss of dear ones, happiness fled,
Sires perished, offspring numbered with the dead.

11. The winds blow, making motes whirl in light;
Now south, now north, now samuum, now shamal.

12. Now the commander spear-thrusts from his site,
Now from his private station comes the call.

13. When coursers raced on days the bets were laid
They sped like racers with their forelocks swayed

14. Not to this end myself did I require,
Nor any goal my passions might desire,

15. But only al-’Abbas did my soul require!
For even the clouds, when his munificence they espy,

16. Seem embarrassed and fear comparison thereby,
And nearly detach in order not to stay,

17. In awe of provoking his reprisal by their stay.
The steps of Springtide and of Virtue, see,

18. What noble ingredients will prepare thereby!
Springtide erected it and Virtue came to give support,