1. Does he think I forget his pact with me,
Or see me as oblivious to what binds me?

2. No! By the one whose love rules o’er my soul,
And whose sweet torment pierces me whole.

3. My heart is still, obedient to his will,
Be that submission or be it defiance.

4. Much have the scandalmongers criticized
My love for that most wondrous man.

5. You who command I turn from my beloved,
Ask of me what is beyond mortal man!

6. Leave me be! For I cannot be guided
By you, nor will you answer for my sins.

7. A friend I roused when night was pitch and black
And false dawn vied with day to reawaken.

8. “Rise, let us take our fast,” I said, “for lo!
The crescent moon of Sha’ban is taken.”

9. A daughter of benevolence, drawing near,
Coy beauty, red lips like fruits ripened.

10. Carnation-pink, in form her cheek contends
With apples, flushed too as if sunburnt.

11. To me, one night with him is sweeter far
Than years of sleep and all that dreams contain,

12. For the Caliph firm in his faith, made great
By God who topples tyrants without strain.

13. A King who counters harm with pardons kind,
And good deeds with better deeds again.

14. Ask of him, though hearsay falls short of sights
That amaze, of wonders plain and arcane.

15. Gaze on him well, see if he is devout
Or wrathful; observant or newspaper?

16. An empire stretching the stars, a glorious reign
Where legends flood in and wonders remain.

17. The oath-breakers humbled themselves when war
Descended on them, destructive as a hurricane.

18. Conquests told daily in wondrous detail,
Foes bested, made to surrender or slain.

19. When the mail was doffed, finer garb beneath
Than ostentatious gold brocade had lain.

20. Tidings from one returned from the frontier came,
True and eloquent though not verbose or vain.

21. Of enemies flanking and the valor that day
Of the father of candles against them did stain.

22. At Marraba the foe was a seething sea
With their towers, their courts, their walls a-reign.

23. The Salt and the Merj giants rallied their clans,
Daabiq and Buthan answered the call amain.

24. Lances bent where raging battle bowed them low
As snakes that hiss bend low but rise again.

25. Whenever their left flank stumbled and lost men,
The brave swords of Khorasan righted them plain.

26. Our stalwart friends charged the gap, stabbing through,
When the two armies finally did meet and engage.

27. Below the portico the slain soaked the dust with red,
While captives eyed the living with a mixture of dread and disdain.

28. For Ibn Amr no lucky gambles were thrown last eve,
Naught remained for them but disaster and bane.

29. Missteps mid calamity and fortunes forlorn
Had lured them to fields where they were destined to wane.

30. Alas for minions foolish, having mocked
Moderation, now choked with blood-mortal stain.

31. Why, when offered, security spurned they,
Choosing demise when lasting life did remain?!

32. O Leader True! Victory and aid belong to you,
Blessings and faith will ever pleasure sustain.

33. In East and West the faith of God now stands supreme,
Thanks to your perfect reign's enduring gain.

34. Strife fades from this earth since you came to command
All that lies east and all that westward lain.

35. You have held the realm with mind judicious,
Gaze circumspect, consideration never vain.

36. None but you owns my heart, none but you
Inspires my praise, by lips and song heralded fain.

37. I have thanked and loved you since my youth;
And it is but right that you now raise me again

38. From my low station, else ingratitude
And baseness in lieu of grace will remain.