1. Whatever separation and love of old,
Whose bitterness the drenching rains have worn away,

2. Defiantly turning from hoariness, though once
We took tranquility into enduring youth,

3. When youth departs, say what you will about
One gone, returning slow, our hopes in clouds obscured,

4. His purpose drifted far beyond our reach,
No more that perilous thread for us to grasp.

5. Longing, should fates allow, to pass with him
One night for many of the faithful kind.

6. A wayside halt where rules of law take pause,
Some buried griefs escape their sealed doom,

7. Spare him your tears, his own suffice to swell
In streams unleashed and flood the sandy wastes.

8. Folly in you two, wild excess of blame,
To chide a love that spares the weak rebuke.

9. That soft cheek, reddened like the veil of dawn,
Sweet stream to sip from, meadows rich in flowers,

10. A phantom she, whose image stays though gone,
I pine in separation like one robbed of rights.

11. Did censors watch her closely, soon enough
The hale would envy all the sick man claims.

12. To firm resolves I come for help, that ride
Roughshod across the paths of agony,

13. Toying with loose threads, bringing down with ease
The over-weakly sewn and patched abodes.

14. Once signs of ruin come, what use to mend
A ripped seam while the cheek shows wear before?

15. Each saddle-bag the carriers swing around,
Wrapping the slant cloth on behind for shade,

16. Wings like arrows bearing burdens that
Exude the worst fatigue and listlessness.

17. No stopping-place have they, though ledges crack,
None but the rock split open for Ishmael.

18. Seekers of pasture, but desire earns naught
Until it waits upon a generous host.

19. They pledged in Banu Mudabbar's line an age
Free of defect or any bitter blame.

20. Nor was the water of their sea bitter,
Nor earth bringing forth aught of foul repute.

21. Nobly situated in the sovereign's rank,
And on the path so straight and clear defined,

22. To the first call, the last, that shines, abides,
Still present, not yet gone to far domains.

23. A garden it from San'a's slopes has grown
In most auspicious ground of bountiful rain,

24. Most pure in lineage, of lineage pure,
If reckoned well, and truly to the core.

25. Should you alight in Abu Ishaq's land,
Modesty itself would greet you at his shrine,

26. Once you but scent his rain cloud, you shall not
Dread the ungainly fury of its storm.

27. With purpose fixed that raised him high as peers
At archery compete to pierce the clouds.

28. And with a nature, were you to add to it
The like, you would not find it in the clouds.

29. Follow in its footsteps, you have seen with eyes
Its traces on the high and low alike.

30. Dazzling white the hands he spreads that grasp
The reins when evil's blackest night descends.

31. Scowling in the battle's rage he seeks
To heal humiliation with curses and threats.

32. He chooses misery in his rule, while joy
Is his companion and at hand to claim.

33. Grim his face that will not smile, or make
Amends for all the wrongs done to the oppressed.

34. Dignified, beneath stillness he contains
The cries and quarreling heard in his court.

35. May God grant you an increase of His gifts
And of His grace with you ever magnify.

36. However you dispose rule, you gain thereby
High praise and fortune of enormous share.

37. You've kept it free of flaws, wearing the cloak
Of virtue, while all around spreads sickness' gown.

38. Basra cried out for your deliverance
From ruin, and you came, like fate decreed.

39. You were a cool refreshing draught for it,
Sweet scented East wind driving off disease.

40. You turned great danger from it, for none withstands
Great danger but one who holds himself as great.

41. Staying with Banu Muhallab, while attacks
Plundered the tents of the defenseless tribes.

42. Among them you were singled out for greatest luck,
The Azd above Tamim in favor there.