1. The morn of youth does bend her slender form
In greeting, but is it a waving hand or heartening?

2. Are the soft curls of her temple a wanderer's locks
Or roses and their garden in embroidery dressed?

3. Are her lips rubies on pearls
Or the full moon's face revealed?

4. Is her neck a sapling swayed
Or a wand of ebony adorned?

5. Is the charm of Babylon scattered from her eyelids
Or a piercing blade, a bending shoot?

6. Is the image of beauty hers or the shape and mark
As though engraved on polished Indian steel?

7. My heart is snared in the redness of her cheeks
My witness bears a trace impressed upon the cheek

8. I drew her close and my heart in love for her
In the city of estrangement is pained and cracked

9. She said "Shame!" I said "For lovers
Such has sanction in canon and decree"

10. At dawn by her wine-red saliva and breath
I reel without cup or beaker or pitcher to hand

11. I ransom her whose mention when adversities throng
Has lodged mysterious in the heart her secret spell

12. Wary her greeting when we meet
A glance hints caution to the spying eyes

13. Truly when she deceived me I'll never blame her
No reproach or prohibition can deter me

14. I've sworn to her I'll never change in my love
That vow in my deepest heart is hid

15. The thought of her is balm whenever bitterness stings
For it is immersed in all that is beautiful

16. The stars of her eyes rain down gentleness
As the verses of the poet rain down upon us

17. I speak of the prince whose words are very pearls
Spilling from his hands like the fount of al-Abriz

18. Lord of eloquence, nay lord of magnanimity, my master
Whose glory in secure protection is preserved

19. His rise has brought days of joy and rapture
So our time is wholly feast and Nayrouz

20. A lion in battle, triumphant and redoubted
Wealth disdained, praise exalted aloft

21. His sword drinks deep the blood of heroes
His spear lodged in the foe's bosom pierces

22. In his palm for the enemy is kindled a fiery brand
On days of tumult, and for the secure a refuge

23. His rank is the summit of nobility, raised up
Beyond the orbit of lowliness, barred and excluded

24. The sublime exemplar of excellent action
In the manifest state ordered, separated and distinguished

25. Of refined mind and lofty worth, of a nature
Free of all that disgraces and corrupts the pure

26. Generous of soul, true of speech always
While the words of his wretched enviers are disordered babble

27. Valiant, injustice annulled by his justice
Good ever renewed and evil forestalled

28. He is the giver of glad tidings, whose endowments
Call to those who would gain plenty from his munificence: "Be triumphant!"

29. He faced Time's buffets with forbearance
Then drove them away though they enraged and incensed him

30. Take these verses to their recipient, trustee of virtue
Bearing congratulations, by all inhabitants of the jungle acclaimed

31. Grant them acceptance, and may good fortune endure
As long as suns rise and the months of March and July revolve!