1. You lived long, Abu Ishaq, as long as life was worthwhile,
And the days continued to be joyful because of you.

2. We gain from your generosity every day,
And you are ever grateful for our praises.

3. You are the dew by which we live where no dew falls,
And a rainfall whose generosity we hope for where no rain falls.

4. Yet I complain after being content,
And find fault though the offense was easy to pardon.

5. A refusal has made me feel deserted, one I am not used to
And have no experience in interpreting.

6. So why did I come seeking you, beyond my goal,
To one not longing for me, and no messenger returned?

7.
Why does he refuse my visit when he saw

8. Me leaving his gates empty-handed?
Others have attained their requests from you

9. And abundant favor has reached them.

10. How can one carried unwillingly on the waves
Be blamed when the sea has fettered his feet?

11. You were aloof to one whose sullenness displeased you—
For the veil is painful when one is suspicious.

12. They claim that nothing forces the youth against his resolve
Except gifts and sorcery.

13.
So if you must one day send gifts,

14. The feast day is the time, now that the fast has passed.

15. For if you send Mikhail a present,
It will absolve offenses and pardons burdens.

16. A treasure that eyes will see as if
The dawn had lit up following a dark night.

17. In just ten nights of the month, no person would doubt
That it is the full moon.

18. If one day he should turn his glances,
Or a flashing look intercepts his gaze,

19. You would see the passion of a heart slow to waver
And a soul's need beyond enduring.

20. One like you gave something like it, it did not burden
His hand, or embarrass or constrict his breast.

21. Yet time has passed in its goodness,
And length of life is the greatest flaw in the like of it.

22. Tomorrow the days will spoil it and time
Did not change its original brilliance.

23. And I will be embraced in the lap of a hoary beard,
Woe to my cheeks from it, if fate should let it thrive!

24. Barter it from him, for you will find
Poets to extol it extravagantly in your praise.

25. Do not seek defects in it or resort
To lame excuses and flimsy pretexts.

26. One may pretend to be aloof out of pride in wealth
While under his cloak lurks greed or envy.

27.
And he may show generosity while just making a pretense—

28. So people will not doubt he is generous.
One who never preferred others will have no

29. Deeds recalled and his name will not last.
If you say, “I already made a vow or oath,”

30. What generous man ties up his wealth in vows?
Do you hoard it like some treasure? But the mark

31. Of a generous people is to treasure generosity.
If you really miss him and suffer his absence,