1. I complain to God of what I have suffered from love's pain
Since the day she departed, riding her camel litter,

2. While we could not properly say farewell through tears
Except by gazing, which was done for us by eyes.

3. When our bodies parted in our farewell
Our hearts conversed between us, and thoughts.

4. O you who inform about the traces of my dear one, are her abodes desolate?
Has a downpour of rain come copiously watering?

5. Has it clothed her ruins in a garment of affliction
With long trailing skirts that cover it?

6. Dwellings of a beloved, the suns have risen on for long
Suns like the eyes of antelope.

7. When they contain them it is as if,
Among the enclosures, there were does and fawns.

8. And if they don glistening bracelets their arms shine
And gleam upon their upper arms the bracelets.

9. Alas! Why does not Sa'di pardon my sinning since
Even if I advanced excuses, she would show forbearance to me.

10. The offence was only loving her excessively,
Exaggerating in my passion for her and being all importunity.

11. Love of her, desire for her, took possession of me, and has not ceased;
Its beginnings lead me on, and its endings.

12. When she commands me to show fortitude, my will
Disobeys her, while my heart is given to grief.

13. Had it not been for love of her, I would not have known love,
Nor would the turning wheel of events have kept me turning.

14. The light of dawn shows you the radiance of her face,
And her tresses resemble the wing of night.

15. She bent supple as a branch above a delicate trunk of spearmint,
Over which inclines a full moon of beauty beaming.

16. When she glances, she enraptures all hearts with one dart:
For their sides her glances prepare spear−thrusts.

17. The stranger, whose family are unknown, has veiled her tent−pegs
With a rope of twisted cowhide the "Banat Nahar" wove.

18. I said to my companions "Let us kneel in prayer while the camels kneel.
Today I abstain with them from departure."

19. While we turn aside into the gloaming, wrapping ourselves
In its folds, the brilliant stars accompany us.

20. Ask for help, O people of the deputation! Only for you
Is he a helper, in what you desire, a helper.

21. A hero whose munificence, when events wax serious, smashes them,
And who to the afflicted suppliant gives, repairing his loss.

22. None, in intelligence and wisdom, can be mentioned along with him
Nor in knowledge can any erudite be coupled.

23. He is perfect in the ranks of glory and loftiness;
A guiding minaret, on the pillars of nobility firmly established.

24. When the wretched exile sees his cheerful face
Good news meets him, in welcome, from it.

25. Next to you, O singular one of the age, are marvels
In them, of meanings, are jewels of literature;

26. An inward part accompanies, in your original disposition,
To facilitate, in poetry, me and my outward part.

27. None has rightly guided it to its proper objects but I;
No poet has preceded me in treading its courses.