1. Does a lover's pain ever change its state,
Regardless of how I implore and try?

2. Oh my people, what maid is there for a young man
Who mixes his wine cup with boredom?

3. With the softness of velvet she veils her cheek,
And with the radiance of her teeth outshines gazelles.

4. When her hair cast its shade over me I said,
May God let its shade linger over me.

5. If only my hair could know where her love strayed,
While her form bears witness to her fairness.

6. I won't forget her words, "You, ask!"
I said, "My soul and passion belong to none but you."

7. How many a lover has come to her,
Questioning while she answers no questions.

8. When the musk on her cheek became a mole,
I said, "Be gentle with the lover's passion, O mole!"

9. She shot me with arrows from her glances,
After she had unsheathed their blades against me.

10. My heart bid safety to her in love,
So her slender shape set out to fight it.

11. Ah! That slender shape, would that
My words could intercede on behalf of my heart!

12. Oh my people, why did my reproacher persist
Sacrificing my soul in love and devotion?

13. If I do good and she does evil,
My tears are no lightning against her.

14. Leave off reproaching a lover, and let my tears be,
For what has flowed onto my cheek suffices him.

15. She is a sun that rose from its hiding place,
Veiled by coverings that glow like halos.

16. Seeing the full moon in its perfection
She smiled, showing it the lustre of her teeth.

17. I tried my luck but sleep weighed down her earring,
And musk wafted from her necklace in the darkness.

18. But when she bid me farewell, she remembered me—
Praise from one fair bid farewell is praise indeed!

19. The seal of prophets and messengers in truth,
The one who brought guidance and fulfilled the message.

20. He superseded with the Book, though an unschooled Bedouin,
The realm of existence cannot contain his likeness.

21. He who esteems his worth and attains his station
No messenger before him attained the like.

22. He protected the faith with shining swords
And erased the ties of passion and misguidance.

23. For the people of hearts he revealed a full moon,
And showed each of them their state and condition.

24. And he brought the opening, sign of victory, reciting
When the Quraysh saw their own destruction.

25. To him the moon split in two openly,
A miracle sufficient as proof and sign.

26. Out of reverence the sun folded its spreading,
After darkness had let down its coils.

27. The staff bloomed at his touch,
And the dry wood sprouted leaves and droplets.

28. The trees came to him when he called them,
And eagerly hastened without delay.

29. If he called on the gods they would come to him
And conceive of being his shoes.

30. Among his people he is the trusted, the well-born,
Of pride, benefaction and noble lineage.

31. He is of the noblest clan of people,
And the best stock and pedigree.

32. Gentle and kind to us, his dependents,
Bounteous lavishly to provide for his family.

33. Do not compare him to the sea on the day of his bounty,
The sea falls short of rivaling his bounty.

34. When want complained to him he would give relief,
Saying, "Poverty, do not dread destitution."

35. O Imam of guidance! O finest embodiment
Of dignity and most splendid majesty!

36. Be my intercessor for the sins of my past,
The days of frivolity, youth and ignorance.

37. Upon you blessings at every time,
Past, present, and in every circumstance.

38. And on your noble family and companions,
Exalted in loyalty and truth of speech.

39. No caravan bound east or west departed
Without seeking the Hejaz and heading there.