1. O friend, is there a friend to aid
When friends are parted and afraid?

2. Is there a heart that feels my pain
And weeps in sympathetic rain?

3. They walked in meadows fresh and green
On camel litters, fair was seen -

4. Red lips like ruby wine so bright,
White skin as ivory smooth and light.

5. Such beauty have I never viewed
As cheek so soft and waist so smooth.

6. No path leads to that loveliness -
Though many a path my feet did press.

7. Hear thunder in my sighs, and note
The lightning in my streaming throat.

8. Marvel at groans like volleys hurled
With power to shake the very world.

9. Long my patience served me well,
Till passion rose, and reason fell.

10. Then like a drowning man I strove,
And grasped each straw to stay afloat.

11. And many a fire I quenched clean
With drops of euphuistic sheen.

12. I roused the love-sick bulbul's lute
With dew, the morning to salute.

13. To generous man I song intone,
The noble golden tree full-grown -

14. The musk-pods bursting fragrance rare
Have perfumed all the morning air.

15. A lion bold, a flood in spate,
He stems the battle's bloody tide.

16. With gentle speech and mien polite,
Or brow like morning pure and bright.

17. He speaks the truth, though bitter pill,
And ears that hear his wisdom thrill.

18. A friend is he, for friendly ways,
And faithful through the changing days.

19. My sharp-edged verses smite as swords,
And slash opponent's vain words.

20. With judgment wise and reason sure,
And steps toward wisdom's vision pure.

21. From him flows inspiration's tide -
And higher thought is my sure guide.

22. When drought dried up my poetry's source,
He watered well its channel's course.

23. You saw me helpless, bound with chains,
Then set me free to roam the plains.

24. Behold this steed now runs full fast,
His legs and lines unshackled free.

25. Though rates are high and verses flat,
I'll start again and all combat.

26. With goods from my poetic sack,
I'll take the market's measures back.