1. My gray hair has descended upon me like heavy rain,
And in the morning he is my harsh critic.

2. He honored me in his speech when he saw me,
Part of him became my supporter in blaming me.

3. It is enough for the gray-haired to admonish me
To restore proper behavior and restrain passion.

4. He veiled his head, then kissed my face,
And it was enough without wearing a face cover.

5. My hair turned white so I realized
The passing of youth foretells the loss of vigor.

6. Seeing him startled me and startled my person,
Like the neighing of a steed startles tent dwellers.

7. So my love songs and nights of union ended,
And I began to fear what was to come.

8. Rather, I reluctantly ended them as whiteness
Advanced and my virility did not cease.

9. Like one driven from water though dying of thirst,
My regret for youth, rather for my gray hair, has lasted as my decline continued.

10. It has deprived me of remedies that once
Healed my burning thirst and ardors.

11. Things forbidden to me were permitted before,
As no gray protected me from them.

12. But now devoid of my guardian gray,
They are forbidden to me absolutely.

13. I have sinned by obeying my gray hair
In what I never obeyed the greatest Ruler.

14. God and His Book admonished me, but I persisted
And recklessly went ahead.

15. Then my gray hair prohibited me afterward, and I submitted
And refrained completely.

16. I was silent about all pleasures for my gray,
Should I not feel ashamed before God and fast?

17. I revived fearing my shame was not from God
Nor reverence, but from fear of others' blame.

18. I respected my gray, though deserving more
Veneration is He of utmost glory.

19. Should I not have shown awe before this
And honored the face of the Honorable?

20. This conduct is nearly criminal, and some
Crimes stem from ignorance and old mistakes.

21. My apology to gray refutes the penitent's argument,
What excuse remains for one who repents not to God but to one like dripping rain?

22. To use as pretext my return to God
Is an excuse too heavy for one craving pardon.

23. Did I make my penance to my inferior
Like the straying of cattle without a herdsman?

24. No! To God I repent when lured
By the bridle and driven by the reins.

25. My gray hair startled me from what the verses
Of the clear Book with compelling authority prohibit.

26. How the Book's light shone that was darkness before!
The gray hair tore away that veil for me, so blindness left and confusion cleared.

27. Both the gray hair and Book together
Admonish and deter from sins.

28. Except the Book is written with pens
While the gray is not made with pens.

29. Rather, by the passage of months and years
That wears out vigor and draws lives to a close.

30. You will not see the like of it, a clear Book,
Neither in shape nor mystical letters.

31. Illiterate and literate read it at dawn
Without obscurity or cryptic meaning.

32. It warns readers with the withering of freshness
And approaching decay and frailty.

33. My critic, I have repented so cease blame
If you are in the right, binding me to make amends.

34. You have seen what you desired, so be pleased
And overpower me, imposing your will.

35. Hardships distracted me from God's law,
And I went astray pursuing desires.

36. I will no longer indulge in them,
So cease blame and end accusation.

37. I have died to passionate cravings,
Like the dreams of a slumbering dreamer.

38. And when the intimacy of a glance passes,
Naught remains but fasting from pleasures.

39. Yet though I have torn myself away and refrain,
I say remembering my youth's prime,

40. Longing for the past that is now behind
Yet before me, kindling my regret.

41. Longing for it though my portion
Is but longing gnawing my fingers.

42. Longing for the does I courted but am now barred,
As my gray forbids what they once allowed.

43. The women call me uncle, though once
I was as a branch among paternal cousins.

44. The arrogance of youth mocks my branch now,
While virility remains among the spears.

45. Lively gazelles tempt me with flirtatious glances
And eyes conveying passion's intimacies.

46. I would roam the gardens in their company,
Eyes smiling as the morning laughed and turtledoves cried.

47. At dawn or dusk we would share cups
And couple fine wine with delightful music.

48. Flow youth, and flow pleasures - if only
They were lasting, not fleeting delights!

49. Disregard the past beyond reach,
Its bitterness passed with time.

50. I crossed desolation with desolation,
Like the glittering blade of polished Indian swords.

51. I spent the night in deep darkness, alone,
Under terrors of a hissing snake.

52. Bowing, seeking pure water in foul mud,
Lost and confused without guide or tracks.

53. Night enfolded me in its density and length
As if weighed down by mountains' mass.

54. The spirits rode me relentlessly
Like noble women riding racing camels.

55. I was slapped by the north wind, thunder, lightning,
And downpours - enough to destroy mountains.

56. My camel, had these threats not harmed her,
Her running would have exhausted camels.

57. Diligent, she carried me until dawn broke radiant
As triumphant drums, saving me from death.

58. Rejoicing at survival, the herd cast me
Like a newborn foal cast with the placenta.

59. While sheep I spent the night wretched among,
Biting my flanks till dawn rose complete.

60. His sun revived and the sheep and ostriches fled,
Leaving me with frog-voiced crows.

61. At leisure he basked in the day's embers
With crows behind while game escaped him.

62. When antelopes came within range
He fiercely pursued with jaws clamped.

63. The herd stampeded but one tripped and fell,
So he pinned her, tearing her throat, blood staining his hide.

64. He continued ravaging the survivors
Like a catapult's stones crashing walls.

65. Or a star falling from lightning in clouds -
Thus my she-camel raged, saddlebags flapping.

66. Tossing riders, she bolts like a brass snake,
Hurling spear upon spear in its wake.

67. How often she carried me to Prince Obaidillah,
Protector of subjects and guardian of oaths.

68. A just servant of brilliant mind and pure heart,
Of lofty soul and strong principles.

69. He has the maturity of an elder and wisdom of an advisor,
The logic of an adult and contentment of youth.

70. A King descended from the sky's heights
Above the sun of dawn and the moon of darkness.

71. He came down like its stars dripping rain,
Beacons for the oppressed seeking justice.

72. He is their succor and guide, the eye
That sees clearly and the hand that builds.

73. After this he is the beauty that adorns it,
With his brilliance and splendor.

74. He wards off every demon of war,
Foiling its evil plans and schemes.

75. When war arises no rival can challenge him,
Vanquishing legions with ease.

76. With claws that mend splits with their touch,
Bringing cleaved halves together again.

77. Resolute in heart and tongue when the coward's
Sword quivers - he is lionhearted in combat.

78. He attacks the sons of Atlantis in battles,
And the sons of Bahram in the fray.

79. His lucid speech defends God's argument -
Eloquence enlightens, unlike rhetorical ornament.

80. An inspired guide following divine guidance
In devising strategies to thwart the cunning.

81. When doubts assail his mind, the resolve
Of one steadfast persists and triumphs.

82. Not like the ignorant, arrogant in judgement,
Mounting opinions before tightening the girth.

83. Master of the sword, schemes and conquests,
Capable of executing these affairs.

84. You will not see fear of trivialities in him
Nor cowardice in calamity's darkest pits.

85. A mountain towering over peaks and cliffs,
While people surrounding it are like ants.

86. Champion of the cause that restored rights
To their people despite the hostile and vicious.

87. Who swiftly answered the call before preparations
And hurried without equipment or army.

88. He ever provides aid for the nation,
Their trusted ally and leader.

89. Bearer of crisis and arms alike,
When none can carry both among men.

90. Firm in heart and tongue when tested,
Unlike the coward's quivering blade.

91. He attacks the sons of Atlantis in war
And the sons of Bahram's clan when provoked.

92. His eloquent speech argues God's case -
Eloquence, not ornament, provides insight.

93. An inspired man guided by God
In devising stratagems to undo cunning schemes.

94. When assailed by doubts, his resolute mind
Presses on steadily without wavering.

95. Not like a foolish braggart's judgement,
Leaping ahead before securing the saddle.

96. Master of sword, cunning, and conquest,
Able to execute such crucial affairs.

97. No insignificant fear makes him waver,
Nor cowardice in the darkest straits.

98. A mountain towering over summits and peaks,
With people surrounding it like crawling ants.

99. Champion of the cause that restored rights
To their people, despite hostility from villains.

100. Swift he answered the call, before equipment or army,
And hurried without preparation for battle.

101. He always aids the nation,
Their trusted ally and leader.

102. Bearing troubles and weaponry alike
When none can carry both, among men.

103. Firm in heart and word when tested,
Unlike the coward's wavering blade.

104. He descends on Atlantis' sons in war,
And on Bahram's clan, provoked to fight.

105. Endowed with eloquent speech, arguing for God -
Wisdom, not finery, provides insight.

106. A divinely guided and inspired man
Devises strategies to undo devious schemes.

107. When doubts assail, his resolute mind
Presses forward unfaltering, as mountains do.

108. Not like a foolish upstart's judgment,
Charging ahead before securing the saddle.

109. Master of sword, cunning, and conquest alike,
Able to execute affairs of grave import.

110. No petty fear makes him falter,
Nor cowardice in the darkest straits.

111. A mountain towering over peaks and crags,
With people encircling it like crawling ants.

112. Champion of the cause that restored rights
To their people, though opposed by villains.

113. Swiftly he answered the call, before equipment or army,
Charging headlong while others delayed.

114. He always aids the nation, their trusted
Ally and leader through hardship.

115. Bearing arms and troubles alike
When none can carry both, among men.

116. Resolute in heart and speech when tested,
Unlike the coward's wavering blade.

117. He descends on Atlantis' sons in war,
And on Bahram's clan, provoked to fight.

118. Blessed with eloquent speech, he argues for God -
Wisdom, not finery, grants insight.

119. A divinely guided and inspired man,
He devises strategies to undo cunning schemes.

120. When doubts assail, his resolute mind
Presses on unfaltering, like mountains do.

121. Not like a foolish upstart's judgment,
Charging ahead before the saddle is secured.

122. Master of sword, cunning, and conquest alike,
Able to execute affairs of grave import.

123. No petty fear makes him falter,
Nor cowardice in the darkest straits.

124. A mountain towering over summits and crags,
With people surrounding it like crawling ants.

125. Champion of the cause that restored rights
To their people, though opposed by villains.

126. Swiftly he answered the call, before army or gear,
Charging forth while others delayed.

127. He always aids the nation, their trusted
Ally and leader through hardship.

128. Bearing arms and troubles alike
When none can carry both, among men.

129. Resolute in heart and speech when tested,
Unlike the coward's wavering blade.

130. He descends on Atlantis' sons in war,
And on Bahram's clan, provoked to fight.

131. Blessed with eloquent speech, he argues for God -
Wisdom, not finery, provides insight.

132. A divinely guided and inspired man,
He devises strategies to foil cunning schemes.

133. When doubts assail, his resolute mind
Presses on, unfaltering like mountains do.

134. Not like a foolish upstart's judgment,
Charging ahead before the saddle is secured.