1. Imagination brings back memories when they are evoked,
Deceiving us while dawn has arrived.

2. She grants our wishes when we ask,
And denies generosity, kindness, and aid.

3. The next morning after separation decreed for us
What the sad heart longed for in fear.

4. So a glance tempted while having bid farewell to sight,
Embraced a friendly person when taking leave.

5. When the lips smile, baring
Pearls from the two seas’ shells.

6. Swords of polished steel flaming
With light, honed for argument.

7. God decreed for us an ordeal in their glances
That destroys us―God give well-being to whom He gives it.

8. As if, when they came close to the two opposites
In beauty, tempting and snatching away,

9. They gave back what ease had lightened
To what burdens the hindparts, making them heavy.

10. The clouds have no creator, or do they aim
At the heights, stalks and dry plants?

11. When I wanted a flowing tear
I remembered her sitting, conversing.

12. If I pursue longing spitefully
It has deprived my eyes of what it deprived of sleep.

13. I am a horseman, driving the bare horses,
Heading to Syria, feeding and denying them water.

14. Eyes lose their moisture when they show happiness
By fixing on earth or staring harshly at night.

15. Incursive when meeting their tryst to penetrate the land―
The coastal defenders from Beirut or Jaffa.

16. Until, while wine was ready for us, the gardens
Of Eden disported with goblets.

17. We host a guest who drinks from the cup as
We were guests hosted by loss.

18. My people have precedence over all peoples
Such that nobles are given precedence.

19. Whoever disdains us in his pride
We praise Abu Ja‘far in kinship and fairness.

20. He repelled events, throwing back their first
Upon their last, restraining and stopping them.

21. If his great deeds miss their mark in time
The days will be their revolving targets.

22. He strengthened Iraq until it remained supported
By the two Iraqs, pens, and swords.

23. How many fathers of men in his rule
Have been abased, or yielded their determination!

24. He governed the lands with management, matching them
In eternity, differentiation, and extremes.

25. He did not rise above considering the insignificant
Nor descend to covetous, disappointing greed.

26. The just, though enemies are prejudiced
Against other than him, avoid tyranny and swerve from it.

27. No treacherous person feels safe with him
Though he knows them to be allies.

28. The ruffians of the Steppe threatened him but
No settled person there resented him.

29. I used to notice the berry’s eye collecting
Good and bad sorts.

30. No love of his has the sword consuming
Bonds by night, cleaving leagues.

31. Free with wealth, his hand strikes
Atmeans he does not deplete, destroying.

32. When I threaten to abandon his gifts
I rebut with success or fail to fulfil.

33. I determined not to trouble Loss seeking
Usefulness or ask Loss for favour.

34. His prestige suffices us, ever increasing,
And what he performed of his people’s duties, or sufficed.

35. You spared me the son of Bistam his conduct
With me, multiplying what he first gave manifold,

36. And though his kindness was intended for me without
My rewarding him for it, wasting and squandering.

37. A tearful eye whose reward you took upon yourself
Until it poured for Abu ’l-‘Abbas thousands,

38. What he had already presented would suffice
To add thousands more to one half.

39. Those eulogies, sung by freed slaves thereby,
I see as debts I owe him and my forebears.

40. So persist performing good works, steadfast
Against what you fear, stopping.