1. A lover longing for his distant home
Though he sends messages, he has no friend to message him

2. The blindness of passion has sealed his eyelids
When misfortunes befall him, he has no allies

3. Tomorrow he will travel the path of his tears
And lo, questions well up on his cheeks

4. Never could he find a moment's respite from love
How could he, when the beloved fills his heart?

5. She has afflicted him with a radiant full moon
Settled in my heart and eyes, her dwelling place

6. Her beauty and coyness appeal to you
Though in truth they are but her sword and her scabbard

7. When the slender branch of her figure sways
The nightingales of passion stir and flutter about her

8. Some compare her to the branch in fairness
But to me the branch cannot equal her

9. The veil reveals nothing but her wrapping
The branch reveals nothing but its leaves

10. She offers you cups of wine at dusk
Her attributes make you forget all other concerns

11. The height of sorcery emanates from her glances
As if the celestial Harut sparkled in her eyes

12. In beauty she excels the full moon in description
As the praise of Khalil excels all other verse

13. When the clouds pour out their abundance
It is but a measure of her bounty and her hope

14. She is a lioness in her ferocity, a raincloud in her gentleness
When terror strikes or fortune pours its abundance

15. She is the sea, save that her shore is sweet
Her springs flow pure for those who seek them

16. Unsolicited, she gives before you ask
Beyond what you request, abundantly she provides

17. Swiftly she bestows gifts, lavishly she rushes
Of simple means, yet boundless generosity

18. When she desires a thing, it is swiftly done
If she speaks a word, it is already accomplished

19. She is severe, resolved, polished like a sword
Branded by God, burnished by glory

20. Where I say "white" it is her swords
Where I say "brown" it is her noble deeds

21. Young men have built a lofty edifice
Whose height cannot be matched

22. Never do I fear poverty if she extends
The palm of her generosity to confront it

23. I see praising her as duty and obligation
For how many of her favors have I gained!

24. O You Who are alone exalted
Who adorns the neck of the age though it rejects You

25. Hasten, out of generosity, to gift Your servant
For the best charity, they say, is swift

26. Gather below a pearl of praise
For I string it, and You grant it

27. May my praises of You be sealed with musk
Sweet to us its ends and its beginnings