1. The youth longed, pining for his home,
And passion wrested dignity's robe.

2. Love sang to him in the warbling leaves
Of branches, in their tender prime.

3. At dawn, suddenly it left my heart,
Though staunch as rock, cleft and forlorn.

4. Gently, dove, your soft lament prolong,
Yearning so long absence to mourn!

5. Longing saw the flask of wine sincere -
It left him with a sundered heart.

6. Strange that you show fear of parting, yet
No horses of departing neigh and start!

7. No staff of stranger sounds on you its thud,
No tent-peg's blow your hearts dismays.

8. You tender beauties lodge where the caliph's crown
Shines, not among the waste's ways.

9. How would you bear exile's sorrows with me,
My fiery passion and plaintive cries!

10. Babbling, not from madness, but with fruits you greet
Tigris, gifts of early harvests' prize.

11. By your tents, not where the common travel,
Kinsmen find you, glorious, bright of face.

12. Amid violets whose charm still grows
Like the cheek-mole on houri's grace.

13. Short my life - the viper's sting is slight
To pierce ambition's mail and breastplate strong.

14. Lost friends and fortune, kinsmen's slights,
A neighbor's wrongs - have I not suffered long?

15. No, by God! None knows a passion like mine,
None such patience as I have shown!

16. A blamer - my journey made her weep,
Downpouring tears like heavy monsoon.

17. She saw my camel gear and said, while sadly
I turned from her desire and trod away:

18. "Why do you brave alone the perils of the wastes,
The seas' wild surges or the desert fray?

19. Do you seek wealth or glory in this quest?
Longing drives you home, or are you astray?

20. Will you accept mere milk from pasturing camels,
Not rich cream, though you merit cream today?

21. I said: "Let me be! It fits not noble souls
To rest content in lands of disgrace and shame."

22. The tamarisk's shade is honor in adversity,
Not like the cloak-tree's shade, and those of fame.

23. How long shall I put off with empty dreams,
While brief lives vanish, like mirages fade!

24. Yet Death claims all; each must remain
In some spot, though it be with grief and pain.

25. Would that I dwelt among honored tribes,
Valiant, sublime, protecting those in need!

26. I offered excuses, calmed myself, sought wisdom, dignity -
Yet I long to be where the best are freed!

27. My sleepless eyes shun the paths to glory,
Though I see the great deeds, and call men to aspire.

28. For a feeble motive links me to my people -
No noble cause, nor battle to admire!

29. So I live like a frightened lizard, craven,
Not with a warrior's courage and desire.

30. Oh worst of eras! May you reap the worst reward!
And lose the noblest souls of valor rare!

31. May every man of ancient lineage grieve,
And your gall-bladders burst, and lay you bare!

32. You tax me, though before I reached my prime,
And pure wine could be pressed from my youth so green.

33. If I complain, it is not as others do -
From me, only the sweetest juice is seen.

34. Tell those who mock: "Openly we scorn you!
Glory is not attained by secret means.

35. Leave off your envy, make your own way up -
Great heights are not attained by what unseen."

36. Despite you I have gained my wish, resolved,
Never content to rest, but roam afar.

37. Into the night my sleepless eyes I raise,
Seeing the feats on glory's battlefield.

38. Some feeble thread links me to my tribe,
No noble bond, or cause that I hold dear.