1. Often has the sea of worries foamed because of him,
Yet he has compensated it with serenity instead of gloom.

2. The vicissitudes of time forgot to trouble his youth,
Stripping obstinacy of its schemes.

3. When I said he will forever love passionately,
And increase in his imaginations and excess.

4. I complained of tyranny and aggression from him,
So he said you complained of justice and moderation!

5. And made me satisfied with what he throws at me,
Of training he made our night a pleasurable one.

6. Alas! A sincere friend sharing my youth and tranquility,
Who complains with me of the days and condoles.

7. I vow to him not to betray a pledge,
Nor make the impossible an attempt.

8. How can I do that when a free man’s pledge,
If the matter becomes serious, is unsafe.

9. And I swear if I hoped to gain something in Egypt,
I would bring to him the deep valleys and elevated tracts.

10. Indeed I spent my life among people,
Who see betrayal as religion and creed.

11. It is as if I am a gazelle among them suffering,
Having poured out its complaint scornfully.

12. I hesitate and do not know, fearing a matter,
That stirs the sickness in one prone to madness.

13. I show them a clear proof but I,
Surpass them in eloquence increasingly.

14. And I turn my eyes away until it is as if,
I am a new blind man embarrassed to be led.

15. And the spark's fire reaches my glances,
Even if the flint striker produced no sparks.

16. And I show them deafness while my hearing,
Can sense an ant creeping in the darkness.

17. I will set forth covered in determination,
If the heedless and rash persist.

18. And I will plunge into destruction without care,
Whether that leads to misguidance or righteousness.

19. So in the expanse of the plain I have scope,
If the frowning one makes a pillow his companion.

20. If death takes me many brave deeds,
Have gained glory traveling through the lands.

21. And if I perish I have presented an excuse,
I stand by it and did not fail trying.

22. And my only desire is the vision of a King,
The light of whose glory burns kindled.

23. So I may fulfill some of his due and gain,
Speech from him like a perfect pearl.

24. It will support my spirit and skill in thought,
And I will make it the pillar of what I build.

25. And whoever descends at the sun of religion accompanies,
On the highbred horses a joyful generous one.

26. He sits with the like of Qa'qa' bin Shur at-Tamimi,
And Ka'b donned with favors bestowed.

27. A King whom if he says he does and if he is silent,
The righteous gain from his attainment increase.

28. A people compare his palm to rain,
But none intending a simile succeeded.

29. If only the rain resembles his palms,
With soft water the camels would not pace.

30. So convey to the inhabitant of Zawra', a message,
From a loyal one to him full of affection.

31. For I did not set the reins of my ride,
With one who yells if called.

32. Nor have I descended with a mean vulgar one,
Who traces harshness for his delegation.

33. Rather I descended the descent of a freeman,
With a wrap and cloak, flint and steel.

34. With a hand that reaches out and extended arms,
To the lofty and long noble steeds.

35. The quickest to the goals exerting effort,
On a foot firm-planted as pillars.

36. The most generous when the year discloses,
For wealth greedy mouths like snakes.

37. Whiter than arrowheads its verses virtuously flow,
A generous one never manifesting but to repeat.

38. Brave since before completing ten years of age,
And who before him ruled at ten?

39. And before puberty he quenched the meadows,
With the blood of enemies moistening the roads.

40. And a day when the sights squint on it,
And its hot breath resembles blackest dark.

41. It imagines on it the sharp tongues of flashing swords,
Stars pelting so as to repel.

42. And Indian swords on it tell tales,
Of embers that are bought until withdrawn.

43. And on it the banners resemble birds,
Rivaling bees you would think them locusts.

44. Thabir and Thahlan would face it with resolve,
If they were to retreat it would not desist.

45. And a year if the living were to be buried in it,
It makes them forget ruins and homes.

46. On it Luwa remains compliant until,
It is as if with and without it there is no number.

47. It stood its ground so the protected ones can access it,
And see for the loyal a path to enter.

48. A matchless one in eloquence of diverse arts,
It shows you in its mind a quick-witted and gentle one.

49. You imagine it though it utters no letter,
It does not display before it and does not repeat.

50. And it neglects the fool with ambitions of its heights,
Trying to attain them but benefits nothing.

51. When its enemies mention it they become,
As if upon their beds are spiny thorns.

52. Tossing their opinion belly up and back,
Seeing no fault in it and no propriety.

53. Beware the habitual stirrer of mischief, obstinate,
Counting obstinacy of profligacy as thrift.

54. Audacious whom only its she lions have reached,
The lions of the jungle with mighty leaping strides.

55. It built around shining Basra a wall,
Rivaling the dam tight binding and setting.

56. And supported it with a blazing flame refusing,
Its attributes to the days to collapse and fall.

57. And adorned it with markets we saw in it,
The whole lands in its midst coursing.

58. And irrigated its people with the Euphrates’ sweet water,
No sweet soul irrigated it with sincerity.

59. And how many institutes and lodges it built,
Schools and guided insights of benefit.

60. And its grand mosque when it leaned,
And they said it tilted and became ruined.

61. It mobilized to the marshlands strong camels,
Carrying the deaf their equal the deaf.

62. And to Shiraz choice camels like mountains,
In body and limbs a caravan.

63. And across every sea it constructed,
Ships whose speed rivals steeds fleet.

64. So when the partisan wept no blemish in it,
Do you see or destitution and poverty.

65. And not one essence except it let flow,
From its essence’ best ink composing.

66. The deed of a warrior in God substituting,
For the substitutes words and belief.

67. There it is if Khwarizm saw it,
It would belittle its delightful palace however lofty.

68. So be astonished O deaf lowly one,
At it and assume the claws of a beast of prey.

69. For its months since it assumed rule,
Have become a continuous spring without the passing of Jumada.

70. Sacrificed for you are souls submissive to it,
Responding to vileness obediently and yielding.

71. If you persist being vile with them,
A door you will damage if through it affection passes.

72. And if one day you call them to battle,
You will stir a day of stormy ashes.

73. With the sweet words it brought you a light,
Radiant enveloping the lands.

74. Its lines show you though the night is dark,
Unique pearls tandem or singular.

75. If it reached Jurayr's hearing surely he would stand,
Revering it and reciting repetitively.

76. And I am no underseller of your poetry,
So I fear interacting brings decline.

77. That was denied to me by noble fathers,
If one born amongst them benefits.

78. And a soul that does not incline to the roses of evil,
Blamed for it even if it dies freely giving.

79. You remained with the survival of your fame in greatness,
I do not see upon it increase.

80. And may your enemy live not calling,
Upon a long lifetime nor being called.