1. Clouds or a slender figure gently swaying,
Branches or a gazelle's glance softly glowing.

2. Green tents or an old friend long awaited,
A crescent moon or dawn's light brightly breaking.

3. In her face time itself lies captured,
Her mouth the morning and evening partaking.

4. I suckled at her breast the milk of union,
Our talk a garden where songbirds awaken.

5. In the garden the breeze recites her words,
Describing the gifts theclouds have forsaken.

6. Where passion burns the stars in frenzy swirl,
Flowers and meadows resemble the heavens.

7. Dew inscribed on leaves the tunes she trilled,
Warbling birdsongs the leaves now carry.

8. Boughs bow to the wind in courtesy,
While shadows lift their gloomy veil.

9. The horizon glows with his brilliant light,
His blessed face with radiance prevailed.

10. A king whose falling stars I witness,
Though finding him a mortal who must fail.

11. A raincloud spreading glory on Hafs' clan -
Generous his hands, generous the gale.

12. His gifts embrace friend and rival alike,
To one grants bounty, against the other flail.

13. A king who shares all he holds in his hands,
Giving gladdens you, withholding breeds bale.

14. He rules with strength, and his swift justice
Binds and decides,不 ruthlessness or trail.

15. His enemies appealed to him to judge,
And he raised them high, no hatred or rails.

16. Eyes he fills, breasts he heals, no lingering pains,
Health to all sides his light evenly hails.

17. O you who dread the blows of fate that fall
On mankind alike, both blight and boon entail,

18. Fear not the dark of disasters, for his justice
Has unfurled banners that flash and prevail.

19. My lord Usman, may you ever rise higher,
The crescent moon gilding your shoes the dust trail

20. By Allah, you mend a broken command
And shine light where gloom did prevail.

21. I know not, though you forget yet remember me
With gifts that spread like the clouds as they sail,

22. Which gift I value more dear to my heart -
Your gifts or the bounty they entail?

23. May God grant you what no man can gain
Nor extend his reach however far he flail.

24. You remain for this praiser, my lord, as long
As reeds dance and leaves on branches regale.

25. Shall I let my eyes in passion slumber?
Can I bank the fires in my breast, make them fail?

26. Do you blame me for love of a moon bright as full,
Though surely you, not I, are unwise and frail!

27. Only fools would blame lovers, for love itself
Seduces the heart and makes wise counsel frail.

28. My posture is bent, my poise left shaken
By what no dark steed could ever assail.

29. A gazelle my eyes amazed, though when they wander
My heart strays while others stand straight and hale.

30. If a youth's heart missteps, the radiant face
Can guide it aright, it need never flail.

31. A flask he carries, the wine in its glass alight,
Water and limpidity pure in its veil.

32. A wind circling, beloveds draw near in worship,
Like pilgrims circumambulating the vale.

33. It flowed clear, and the wineglass made passion swell.
Drink - though we know not if it virtue or bale.

34. Wine of the morn, wine that dreams, wine that cheers,
Coffee ebony-dark, wine rose-flushed and pale.

35. Ruby-red, yellow-bright, white-gleaming wine
Curing sickness with its perfume inhaled.

36. As though with the breeze recovery is sent -
The wind a healer, breath of health in its gale.

37. Its gleam brought joy to lovers, from its mouth
Flows radiance, lips like the red of nightshade pale.

38. A moon pours its liquor, his face so fair,
His glance soft - cupbearer of beauty the veil.

39. Dance with the wine as dawn peeks her veil,
The reeds dancing, leaves upon branches regale.

40. Seeing the king's face, flowers smile and bloom,
Blessings raining down that all men hail.

41. Rightly assuming the mantle of succession,
When past caliphs had failed it to avail.

42. From his land rises bounty, plenty, and grace,
While granting, giving, and blessing prevail.

43. Meet him and find righteousness, aid, and joy.
Loyalty, victims, and bliss will regale.

44. Far from him lie betrayal, sins, resentments.
His works shun deciet and rancors impale.

45. Three guide his sturdy resolve and decrees -
Annulment, decision, and reason prevail.

46. Glory itself rides pillion with two steeds -
On one his fathers, the other peers he'll trail.

47. Nights of wakefulness while others slumber deep,
Eyes know no rest, from no toil will they quail.

48. A sea I draw from the bounty of his hand,
A moon reveals to my eyes the world unveiled.

49. If clouds could see but a glimpse of his light,
They would wander confused, losing their trail.

50. If to his critics he remains obscure,
Blame not the sun when clouds make sunlight fail!

51. Unmatched his mighty works - none can hope to build
Such, and no peers can with his feats prevail.

52. He leaves poets dumbstruck, wits frayed and frazzled,
In his ocean founders the best and the hale.

53. When he seeks to subdue, his cavalry never fails,
Only the routed glimpse the horses' tail.

54. He emerges victorious, his face serene
Joining mercy with triumph, turning the flail.

55. Have you not heard of his famous day at Sarraq?
When his mercy made even enemies hail.

56. He defeated the insolent foe, yet still
Showed grace - the finest virtue enemies tell.

57. I have never known greater nobility -
Even hostile tongues his merits regale!

58. He refuses no beggar - for all who seek
Find in the shade of your glory no want to assail.

59. Be near or far, I send my verse to you,
Though wise you need no song your name to extol.

60. No harm though pilgrims tarry from your land,
Where your hands as the clouds rain down boon without fail.

61. I gift both my steed and my camel to you,
So ordain that their blood may loyalty entail.

62. Slay them on your feast and let your glory reign!
Let gardens of honor bloom from the dust of the vale.

63. Grant, O noble clouded one, your servant a robe -
None can weave its equal, not even in Sanaa's veil!

64. When I came seeking audience you cried aloud -
"Ask of me, your radiant face prevails!"

65. I heard your sweet /na'am/, eager assent -
Bliss itself your /na'am/ reveals.

66. So I wove rare verse to your glory, but my lines
Cannot reach the lofty odes other poets regale.