1. No wonder youth has departed and vanished;
The first of my comrades to betray me has gone.

2. Thus I've known fate since first I knew it;
Wealth, friends, and boon companions all betrayed me.

3. I never thought, O youth, my stature
Would diminish after you and thus decrease.

4. You began well but ended by
Giving me white hair—would it had not been!

5. Once I easily endured misfortunes,
But now I can hardly bear those near you made light.

6. For man white hair is but the end
When sport is completely reined in.

7. How often have I sported in the field with youth
And kept at it on that race course,

8. Until I outstripped the outstrippers in its glory
And circled its ends and won wagers,

9. And waylaid waylayers with arrows like theirs
Until two hearts were equal in passion—

10. A bough on a slender stem, this shames it
When it begins, but that adorns it when in full leaf.

11. Whether its base you despise as paltry
Or its top you despise as bent over,

12. It's as if shaky, half-dead, borne by the weaker
End, it has lost its teeth.

13. Passion commands, and youthful vigor does what
Honor and piety forbid—

14. Talk that passes round like tales youth spread
In pre-dawn hours, awakening a slumbering garden,

15. With birds still musically whimpering as if their cooing
Had stolen the melody and musical modes—

16. O you who have passed away, in whose days
I was true to praise in our lord and master,

17. The guardian of faith who inundated the world
With justice and showered all with kindness,

18. God's mercy by which He gave life to
Both worlds until generosity and faith,

19. If poets speak of him, they are most eloquent,
While God sent down his eulogy as a Qur'an,

20. And if eulogists go on at length, they leave
No place for God's word to fill concerning him.

21. O God's argument who have demonstrated to us
By their perfection signs and clear proofs,

22. Whoever sought evidence, yours have become
Arguments filling hearing and sight.

23. You are the son of him who rode Burāq to the most high
By night, led by his eyes' sight, the elite of men,

24. With Gabriel before him until they opened
The gate of heaven and ascended beyond it

25. Until he contained the ultimate station none contained
Before him, neither angel nor man,

26. And drew near so close he was but two bow-lengths
Or nearer still, and revealed there a passage.

27. O people of revelation, praising you along with
Our overflowing affection has enlightened us.

28. Orators vie in praising you, your nobility
Sweeter and more eloquent than words and tongues.

29. Especially Abū l-Maymūn—his traits
Exhausted description and silenced the censurers.

30. His morals are prophetic, Alid,
Ḥusaynid, magnifying thereby his rank.

31. The beauties of his appearance match his essence—
The charms of his mystery equal those revealed.

32. O son of the virgin, you have attained through your office
A glory that exceeds its earth in breadth.

33. The stars in their heights were humbled that
They might serve as your footstool's neighbors.

34. You made poetic craft dear, or rather made it precious,
With the rewards you gave its masters.

35. Your abundant grace made our amusements
Flow forth, each now a torrent in flood.

36. Your generosity is ever-flowing, our praise
Scattered like flowers when watered.

37. The excellence of my praises is that my words
Give life to minds and open hearts.

38. Had we not pronounced them, your nobility still
Would have threaded rhymes with wisdom and clarity.

39. O sun of the spheres of majesty, surely
Your lights have illuminated the darknesses and sorrows.

40. Your brilliant stars shone on high
While the moon filled onlookers' sight.

41. You named him as heir, so the hearts of enemies
Thumped in fear.

42. The quarry of kings surrendered, aware
That if they disobeyed him, it would make the potsherds quake.

43. The egg shells trembled from his palm,
Yearning—they almost burst their shells.

44. The stallions of the lofty stables reared up
As the gallant steeds pulled at their reins.

45. You are still the root, he the branch drawing
Life from you, and by you both are watered

46. Until your shared rule encompasses the earth, leaving
No place that does not bow to you.

47. Lo, Rajab has passed, taken leave of your ever
Remaining face, gladdened thereby Sha‘bān.

48. A month taking joy in a glance
At the brilliant light of your cheek that covers us.

49. At a stance kings fall down because
Their crowns always bow low before you.

50. Live on, bidding adieu and greeting the future,
While fate seeks asylum in your hands.

51. You are life, and in your hands is its home,
Your help gives life to both worlds.