1. Spending the days of life pursuing
A livelihood whose gains I grasp is loss,

2. While profit complete is in meeting a youth -
Through meeting him is life renewed.

3. Like the son of a minister - he's a man
Too proud to be seen showing gratitude.

4. A king you see, yet never
Do you see other than goodness blossoming.

5. So seek meeting Abi l-Husain, and let not
Wealth, little or more, distract you from him.

6. There's no excuse in staying away
When days of ease he grants you.

7. Do you reckon gaining his palm recompense
For your softness towards that noble youth?

8. Do not show ingratitude for His blessing
In him, lest He make your share unbelief.

9. Or is it not unbelief that you appraise him
At the meanest value? For you, meanliness!

10. Appraise him by the world’s happiness
And eternity - perhaps a tenth thereof.

11. And know that hardship is what was granted you -
Your eyes seeing Qasim brought ease.

12. And know that ease is what was denied you -
Your eyes seeing Qasim brought hardship.

13. O you who will protect me from my misfortune
Since, besides him, the world holds no treasure,

14. Do not abandon me to devastation - you are
A tree like no other trees in truncation.

15. And stand by excellence - eyes of pigs have set
Their sights on me and you.

16. The full extent of what I seek your permission for,
Whether granted or not, is all estrangement.

17. All crafts, or intermingled with them,
Is the sincerity of your pleasure - turbid springs.

18. Do not reckon your seriousness has intoxicated me
Until I forgot you - in me no drunkenness.