1. The beloved came though spies were watching,
And the night wore garments of blue and black,

2. He walked despite his fear of slander,
Lest the words against him ring true.

3. He pleaded that I fulfill his desire,
Though his promise and pact with me were kept,

4. I greeted him and he wept, dawn on his face smiling,
With light and radiance graced.

5. Love draws him near while disdain distances him,
Yearning for one is a pander and broker,

6. He made me taste from his mouth bitterness,
Though its fruit is not branch or leaf.

7. To free him from suspicion that filled his hand,
My heart is captive and my tears are unrestrained,

8. If his disdain had turned me from his love,
I would not have softened, for never did they taste,

9. The fire of passion sweetly tortured me while he lit it,
It blazes in my heart with burning and searing,

10. I kissed him while my tears fell atop his cheeks,
Pouring, and his tears down his cheeks coursing,

11. Confusion mixed from my state and his frowning,
The ground watered by rivers and streams overflowing,

12. He held me, my ribs nearly shattered
From insistence, though we were bound by union and longing,

13. Until he stirred to bid farewell, trembling,
My heart detached by longing and yearning,

14. He speaks and weeps and I know not his words,
Among the weeping, and the raven of separation cawing,

15. We bid farewell, each limb among us
Surrendering, with determination and necks bending,

16. But no necklace adorns my neck as appeared
From my Master’s generosity, necklaces bestowing,

17. This is Sa’eed, the best of all people,
In the roots of pride, virtues manifest,

18. Scion of the Sultan whose resolve is firm,
Giving people from his palm sustenance and livelihood,

19. He aspires to glory and supremacy unrivaled,
As he longed for his beloved in fervent ardor,

20. His soul is pure, in praise holding a station,
That no wasteland or stony plain ever attained,

21. In his ear, the voice of one who asks him
Exhausts his treasures with charity and giving,

22. It enriches beyond rain in this life, and if
His fingers found bounty, free-flowing it would be,

23. If one day, equipped with victory, he waged battle,
He would be like a shooting star, blazing,

24. He watered the swords and long lances with blood,
Of the enemy, who fled defeated, unable to bear it,

25. From the severity of the thrust they would leave no trace,
Their souls unfelt and spirits departed,

26. The horses’ hooves upon the heroes fallen,
On the ground slain, none surpassed,

27. After them, in God’s safety, bounties lie,
And people to you in prosperity flock,

28. Eternal one, you know not what I suffer,
While my heart by the fire of passion lies scorched,

29. If you knew my ribs shattered by passion,
You would melt in agony as my heart ruptured,

30. For parting you, captive lies my soul bound,
My tears remembering you freely pour,

31. May God protect days where unity once gathered,
When separation never cried out in lament,

32. I greet the branch of sweet basil every hour,
And kiss the lip of lightning whenever it flashes,

33. Never was the time of parting that I endured,
Nor were its moments blessed in perpetuity,

34. My life after its sweetness became desolate,
Its water bitter from scarce union and meeting,

35. Neither withered the separation and all became estranged,
Nor verdured the union’s bouquet, blossoming,

36. In my heart is no memory but of Khalida,
Flying to her ardently and soaring,

37. If she went west, I would go west pursuing her,
If she went east, I would go east seeking her,

38. The longing of thunder in each hour comes to resemble my moan,
Whenever I hear the caged nightingale cry,