1. Blessed is Allah, Creator of the generous vine
Skillfully made from blood clot and clinging

2. What have we seen in the side of a youth
Like the full moon unveiling the darkness of night

3. His time is all springs
Like the time of spring, the delicate one

4. Well known among people for kindness unlike
Any courser among racers for swiftness

5. A youth who sees glory has not left
Praise like truth without pretense

6. So he buys high praise even if
He becomes destitute except for shreds

7. You will find him like an open field if
You want, and like a gentle stream at times

8. Gentle in it unlike the coarse
And generous in it unlike the mean

9. His nickname is Father of Excellence, and he is
Indeed excellent, and I speak not falsely

10. The best nickname for men
Is a title, neither bee nor hornet

11. Abdul Malik, old imitator of
Flowers, formerly composer of poetry

12. He takes money when he owns it
As shields and coats of mail

13. From the honored Abbasids
Of noble character and early merit

14. An ocean if you cast into it
Its waves become like Mustafa's

15. It foams at petitioners, its surge
When asked is astounding in roar

16. Source of palm and tongue when
Asked and a place to speak is found

17. With splendor of dew and other of
Knowledge so in him the best estuary

18. He runs to every unattained goal
Never sought before nor borne

19. As the gaze runs unfettered
Darting from its pupil and no eyelid blinking

20. Its veins have honored the purity
Of his nature from affectation

21. By his merit he has come to decide
From passions a way where creeds disagree

22. We remain in his fertile abode
In a meadow at times and in plenty at others

23. Hearing verse in his presence, singing
Flowing to listeners without pause

24. He sings bringing us joy though
He found it dead at its last breath

25. When will it be ordained for one who befriends him
A morn joining a clouded night

26. He gives the regretful drink and they drink for him
Like Pharaoh's drink at the time of drowning

27. His old is entertaining and his new
Is newest and most wondrous creation

28. His only fault is he is a man
Who calls our wise to frivolity

29. Disturbing the good he brings
No! He reassures the anxious one

30. His title cleaves to well being and
Peace, peace to it in the abodes

31. Abu Suleiman of insight and
Kindness, son of kings not the street

32. O beauty of that singing assisted
By the cooing of those turtledoves

33. Who is it at dusk, it is handsome
And who is it in darkness and ardently passionate?

34. While we are quenched by his drink at dawn
Of fruits from gentleness

35. He refuses no petitioner and gives no
Friend a drink but equally

36. His generosity fulfilled their rising
And his palm spent without distinction

37. Upon abject ones as if they were corpses
Of Aad mighty in form

38. So something came when flies approached
Drawing near in swarms unafraid

39. You meet in the softness of his drink and the
Spreading of anklets and yellow twilight

40. Its exterior orthodox yet
Upon its drinkers no sin

41. It has clarity as if gold
And foam like scattered pearls

42. It struts in an appearance adorned
By stolen aged sweet wine

43. Circling it a maiden who stirs with
A provoking glance when eggs are broken by cooking

44. Dark without trace of fair
Or affected whiteness or painted face

45. Rather of the daughters of kings, soft
Spreading languor with her glance

46. Love made it so she was dyed
With the dye of love of hearts and eyes

47. So thoughts and sights turned toward her
Each neck hugging whatever neck

48. That blackness reveals when it parts
From her mouth pearls in a row

49. As if she and playful laughter
Were night unveiled its darkness and split

50. Brunette like a totally blackened
Intoxicant displaying coyness

51. She moves and her rivulet moves with her
Two rills hurrying in the plain

52. She has a bend borrowing its twist
From a melting heart and breast of rage

53. As if her passion for his love
Ignited a blaze in his depths

54. Increasing his straitness with conversation
As the tightness of a noose increases at the neck

55. When vines mix with it
It squeezes like the chokehold's squeeze at the throat

56. He who seduced the heart says
Good fortune to the key to that locking

57. I have endowed her with standing from mention
Like a doubling sword blade bare

58. Though most black upon the lids of swords
And the truth is not distorted

59. Take her Abu al-Fadl as a robe for you
Of finest praise, not tattered garb

60. I described her whom I fancied
Vainly and untested and untasted

61. Except by your accounts which came
From you about a gazelle of the meadows

62. Far from a black girl who settled
Your abode, but from a true story

63. Some of the excess blackness but
Truth has a ladder and tunnel

64. Do not blame the blackness of her mole
While whiteness itself may be blamed for pallor

65. Alas a robe that heals the breast
Of anguish and cannot heal a burn

66. She came to you freely, her lover's love
Not reluctantly nor pulled

67. And if you refuse companions clothes
Protecting from the sting of wind or touch of leaf

68. Monopolizing them without sharing
Not apportioning equals from portions

69. Apportion to them, do not stand at the torn
Place of blame and you will be found torn

70. For my need if you send it to me
In solitude and the monastery, agreed destination

71. First, the door of excuse is not barred
No, nor the door of a paid companion