1. The homes exuded fragrance after they left
The perfume of musk spread by the perfumer

2. That is the fragrance of loved ones who bid farewell to the homes
Their farewell overflowed with fragrance the evening they departed

3. Their departure brought copious tears down
like rain pouring from the homes

4. They left at dawn from faces as bright
as full moons shining in their splendor

5. They left hearts wounded by separation
No eyelids can withstand such affliction

6. Strange that the hunter of heads (critic) targeted me
Rendering me speechless with his sharp arrows

7. So I smiled and said, though fire burns in my heart
Is there a way to retaliate? They said:

8. The wounds of the foreigner, though deep, make no sound
For she is helpless against the mighty

9. I planted a kiss, like a garden rose, on the cheek
Where it glowed red on the cheek's moonlight

10. The separation tended to it, so it shed blood
The tears' water justified its flow

11. As if the tears were fresh dew revealing
A tulip whose petals hid embers aflame

12. What days we spent in gardens adorned
where rains had blessed its boughs

13. Everything winter nurtured till March displayed
Leaving nothing for spring to confer

14. Green bitter oranges, white roses,
Red anemones and other spring flowers

15. The branches, when the birds sang within,
danced in rhythm to the melody

16. The leaves appeared to my eyes
Like a sky with stars as fruit

17. A full moon rising over mares on a meadow
Like bubbles on water's surface

18. The fireflies evoked writings
with their flickering as vowels

19. We blamed the night for denying us
with its darkness and veiled stars

20. As if the sky were a well-tended garden
bordered with flowers of stars

21. A river from the Milky Way irrigated it
with tributaries flowing beneath

22. The crescent moon appeared like a boat
amazing eyes with its glow

23. We saw the Pleiades and said:
It is a goblet with a potent drink

24. Dawn arrived and every star vanished
When it smiled with the spreading light

25. Like a sea engulfing the gardens, leaving
no trace of them afterwards

26. Or as if the darkness were night
and dawn's glow the rising sun

27. Or like erasing the writings
when these poems are recited

28. A unique flag whose honor and faith
will last for ages, lofty and dignified

29. Qays and Ziyad sought its mantle
And the son of Idris obtained its mantle

30. Exalted in merit, loftiness and glory
May God increase him and diminish the vile

31. His words are wisdom, his views are light
His phrases shine like moons

32. In Allah he places trust, the singular scholar
The hoped refuge, pride of all secrets

33. May God eternalize the reign of our upright King
For he is the chosen, distinguished leader

34. His traits resemble a garden in bloom
His face shines like the moon

35. He is like a sword, yet he has for each side
Sharp blades for the corruptors

36. His resolve is his sword, his prestige terrifies
His supporters bring victory

37. To him alone belongs the state of war
Against enemies, hordes of warriors

38. Whenever he plants his straight sword
In the enemies, heads will scatter

39. If the darkness of misfortune's night
Covers over, he is the sun

40. He balanced this age, so it appears
As if time's cheek displays a mole

41. To Alexandria's lighthouse he holds
The highest position, none can supersede

42. He established a school there, attaining
From its lights wings to soar

43. He saw the preserved Imam, the hoped refuge
As the best of guides compared to him

44. So he granted him to teach there
For no greater honor can one seek

45. O you scholar whose hands
Make seas of divine knowledge flow!

46. The fast departed, and at dawn
When the fast ended, breakfast spread

47. A feast has come, and you are its feast
May God prolong your life ongoing

48. Stay well and safe as lightning flashes
And birds sing in Beirut's branches