1. Neither the freshness of youth nor its prime
Will return after their time has passed.

2. The free and empty soul grieves
As his breast fills with burning passion.

3. O you who reproach this love of mine, kill it
If you can hide it, or expose it if you can.

4. Do you fear the slander of censors? No, but I fear
My own madness - lovers fear their insanity.

5. Lightning goes wherever it wills,
Be it lightning itself or its flashes seen.

6. The breeze of a gentle wind reminded me of you
When it shook the branch of a willow it bent.

7. In it theorioles sang sadly,
Stirring the hearts of the lovesick.

8. My night immersed in worries deserves
A dawn that awakens my knowledge of you.

9. Would that I could reach out my hand
And pick ripe fruits from its heavily laden branches.

10. It has taken on the color of her cheek,
Resembling the hue of her rose-red complexion.

11. I feared, or imagined, that the days
Of Abul Fath would be prolonged.

12. But when the news becomes true one day,
To the observer, opinion and evidence are the same.

13. If the righteous are veiled from you,
The cruelty of fate reveals their loyalty.

14. A sword is known by its strike, just as
Trials reveal the true friend.

15. And when fate harms, it comes from enemies,
Though they be brothers sharing one home.

16. Ask them about the best of all people, when
Their gathering fills with smoke at every return.

17. May God protect wherever Abdullah resides
Or wherever his homeland lies.

18. He of Mudhij and Najran will not stay
There when the day of parting arrives.

19. When I left, joy left me,
For only presence brings joy.

20. An intention followed by deprivation -
How often does deprivation follow intention!

21. Happy is the resident, blessed are the neighbors
Whose neighbor grants them abundant rain.

22. A gift was intended for the palace of Chosroes,
But Chosroes and his palace had no desire for it.

23. Greetings to Madain, so white - my longing
Is for Mudhij or its sword case.

24. The most deserving of all people of gratitude,
And the least deserving of pride, is he whose gratitude you grant.

25. Generosity has vanished from us and misguided us,
Were it not for its dwelling place.

26. If he promises to fulfill a wish,
His hands clap in agreement though his mind remains anxious.

27. His is an obedient nature - if pleased
To show generosity, he yields and loosens his reins.

28. The more the nights bring goodness,
The more his goodness increases.

29. A group whose entertainment makes one doubt -
Are they the hosts or the treasurers?

30. No fickleness of opinion is feared from him,
Nor is his temptation easily dismissed.

31. Al-Harith bin Ka'b bin 'Amr
Ends with their ruins where his building once stood.

32. If you say she surpasses in discourse, she is
The outstanding one, like the branches of her willows.

33. Or if you ask about her ancient past,
The best answer is her arrow tips.