1. His heart was filled with intense longing when it parted,
On the morning when the camel litters departed and bid farewell -

2. A farewell that made my heart quiver and astonished it.
A farewell over pretending to be stoic and sorrowful -

3. It made hearts tender with love and softened them.
It was nothing but a grief that had taken control,

4. And a great secret after its concealment had spread.
Our shadows went around the glance and the distance ruled it,

5. The morning showed a wing of night covering it.
So I wish I knew - did my love for her make the journey easier

6. Or did it give more life when the veils were lifted from her face?
Life clothed her with the luster of its water when the eggs departed from her face.

7. Fluttering, she throws hearts when she moans
With an arrow shot from the bow of my gaze scattered.

8. She shows you daytime with night falling on it
And a branch on a palm trunk that grew tall.

9. The love for her dwelt nurturing the meadow of my heart
And nested in the blackness of my heart and built a nest.

10. I hunger for her, then thirst - and love
Overcomes me so I hunger and thirst.

11. The moaning of doves at dawn troubles me
When they coo - so compose for the palm branches.

12. And the best of thoughts came with the inspiration
Showing you an increase in its wording and fine embroidery.

13. With it I set out seeking my aim, heading
To the best one who walked upon the ground with shoes.

14. To the most glorious, brilliant youth - to a young man
Whose ranks are higher than branch and feather.

15. A king - if you seek his aid in time of peril,
He answers and gives you joy and revives you.

16. He manages the affairs of kingship, managing his rule,
And does among them what he wills and desires.

17. He established the limits of justice among the people of his kingdom,
And befriended and sheltered in God, not fearing.

18. And he surpassed in battle Kisra and Caesar,
As well as Amr ibn Hisham, Al-Jalinda and Mar'ash.

19. Were it not for the generosity of his hands, the bier
Would be carried to the belly of the tomb alive.

20. For that one, apart from all people, I count him
My refuge - in him I do not meet refusal.

21. My refuge, when fate shows me its fangs
To tear the flesh of my body and gnaw it.

22. When my eye is overcast, I see nothing for it
Except the dust of his shoes, a cure for anguish.

23. And here is a reproach, O Ibn Nabhan, that has come
To uncover the hidden of the conscience and search it out.

24. A gentle reproach, crafted by an understanding one,
Who poised well the arrow of perception and feathered it.

25. It came from a loving, loyal one whose affection for you
Sees even the slightest thing that could be and the most shameful.

26. He counts you, apart from all creation, a stronghold -
If fate becomes hostile and turbulent against it.

27. So if you are one who keeps his own vow to himself,
Then do not listen to a whisperer whispering about his person.

28. The people did not envy him except that
He gained your bounty and enjoyed luxury.

29. And when I drew gently from your sea with complaint,
I cast aside the bucket of the pool and pardon and feather.

30. And the life of people is not gloomy while your suns
Cover the world, nor is the land desolate.