1. Reconsider, did the living youth approach decrepitude,
And did his meadows adorn the garden with fresh greenery?

2. The bright, delicate narcissus smiles with a split mouth,
And the tender, pale primrose blushes with reddened cheeks.

3. When the clouds weep their tears on it in solitude
Like pearls strewn on the petals of basil.

4. I never found sadness in its valley to be a respite,
It had always been a refuge for passions and a place of affection.

5. The marks of misfortunes gesture with hands,
Brands that never extended a hand to its people.

6. It continues to water its drink from my tears,
Rivulets that mimic scattered pearls.

7. I stood by it as yearning grazed my hearing,
The neighing of steeds and the singing of doves.

8. I weep and in crying the young find comfort,
I extinguish what composure had kindled.

9. My companions blame me and passion excuses me,
Can the young man ever have composure?

10. The worst of my friends, if I called on him
To ward off the delights of worries, refused.

11. If it weren’t for the gatherings of youth, I wouldn’t have stood
At a dwelling in al-Abraqayn that lasted.

12. I remembered through it a life whose garb I shed,
As fate pulled me as it transgressed and tyrannized.

13. The morning of old age crossed the night of my youth
Which has evaded me while my youth still has scope.

14. It shone a light that almost led my heart astray
So it could misguide it while it’s guided by light.

15. It pillowed my bosom before its time,
An untruth that does not break its promise.

16. The cloak of youth shaded me
With the blessings of divine aid until they were renewed.

17. I would not be pleased, even if I owned property,
With anything less than a stellar meadow.

18. My determination refuses to wet its thirst
With anything other than a supreme king who surpassed humanity in generosity.

19. So I headed towards the best of people, besides Muḥammad,
The partner of the Prince of Believers, Muḥammad.

20. His left side lingers behind the clouds,
Without them the valor and force would not have been known.

21. The subjects sleep while he surveils
The clusters of stars lying down.

22. The prey of kings surrendered in awe
To the most wondrous of the children of the Saljūq hunters.

23. When the veil is lifted from him and his secret appears,
The kings would bow down in prostration.

24. They lead their obeyed bridles to his neighbor,
The most generous of pure and glorious lineages.

25. If they establish him then he is higher than his tower,
And surpasses what they instated and built.

26. He dazzles the eyes of onlookers while they all
Flip through his lights with a bleary glance.

27. He alerts the lands’ battalions
Who drag the lengthy, outspread armor.

28. Their spears only detach from the throats,
And their swords only separate from the mountain peaks.

29. If one of them falters in a mishap,
They straighten him with someone from their regiments as they desire.

30. If the noble descendant does not defend his kin,
He becomes shrouded the next day in a shroud or skulls.

31. By God, the sword’s essence clears its whiteness
Of the gloom of a dark day intensely cold.

32. With a battle in which death casts its blessing,
It draws smoothly then is sheathed restfully.

33. They are the lions who meet tribulations elatedly,
Does the lion wear the ragged garment?

34. It grew accustomed to encountering spears with its incense
And traversing the unknown of death until it was renewed.

35. The cloak of battle which washes off blood stains him
As kohl perfectly lines the eyelid.

36. Beneath him hooves stamp the earth’s cheek
Embracing the solidified, frozen ground.

37. They obey the auspicious guide whose leadership made
The land his abode and the desert his worshipper.

38. O best of those who praises are dedicated,
Whose rhymes combine the perpetual glory.

39. You pulled me by my forelock so I mounted the gray hair,
I did not wear shoes but only sandals and socks.

40. You brought me close until all the people folded
Into resentful, envious rage toward me.

41. That which I attained today would not have reached
The scope to attain what it attained.

42. Your grip is triumphant and your rule prevalent,
Your sword sparkling and your authority pursued.