1. The breeze of dawn stirred in the meadows,
Bringing tidings from the edge of the horizon,

2. And it fluttered about the gardens' fields upon
The soft twittering of the branch's bending twig.

3. So I set about seeking secluded pleasures,
And I sought the prime of life with fulfilled wishes,

4. With the wine-skin of addiction bending low, drunk
Languid of glance, sweet of saliva, fragrant.

5. And I lent my ear to one singing alone,
Of nightingales, their songs to hearts softly stealing,

6. Reciting melodies of enduring passion, and what
Ibn Jami has composed in song and meter.

7. Long did the dewy garden awaken for us
A sleeping eyelid, as the breaths flow in dusk,

8. And light opened eyes without kohl,
A look without restraint, with eyelids without coyness,

9. As if they were disheveled orphans
Torn by the wind blowing through leaves,

10. Myrtle whose branches it violently shakes
Even their adornments hang from their necks.

11. Beneath transparent robes it flows
From their dresses onto their shaking, restless legs,

12. Their glowing cheeks tell of ardency when
Kindled by the bashfulness of a rising moon.

13. The roses hastened from their buds
To show for us their fragrant spreading above the meadow,

14. Silver coins from rubies on twigs
Piled under a golden dinar on a plate.

15. And for the dance of the cut sleeve they are encircled
By emerald serpents made of paper,

16. The soft jasmine appeared when it began
To shine like a pearl emitting from it diffuse fragrance,

17. Like small bubbles flowing in the evening glow
Melted ruby with the sunset,

18. And the garden narcissi greeted in plenty
With bright yellow and white interspersed,

19. As if, while on its smooth branches
The breeze blows upon it a hugging breath,

20. Combs of strung pearls in a mass
Of curled and scattered locks.

21. These are creatures which spring has woven, for who
But the Creator narrates, O eloquent one, their making?

22. Nothing appeared in it of garden or flower
Without His subtle touch stealing in.

23. Glorious! If only the Pleiades of His gifts
Were apportioned by His hands unto the horizon,

24. Whenever His understanding unravels a problem
More wondrous than the nimble Indian gazelles,

25. Or whenever the branches yield to Him in speech
More beautiful than the garden, dense and verdant,

26. And the stout staff submits to what poverty He shows,
You'd think it knotted pearls and collar,

27. The pavement resembles from its foundations, and most fine
Is the weaving of its wool and silk brocade,

28. The sea ripples forever in its edges
The water of safety never swerving from equilibrium.

29. And it came to Damascus while in tranquility
As if saved from the depth of submersion,

30. And the fortunate bird landed in its field
His steed atop the glory and splendor,

31. And he created for us in every limb
Gratitude, both scattered and arranged.

32. There a solution was filled after journeying,
In an abode with the illumination of the Law flaring,

33. And it came to you from the expert of speech overflowing,
None but the fanciest eggs and necks.

34. It scattered the spell of Harut's sorcery,
Its four integrity verses came into form,

35. Bewildered by your praise when its smile shone forth
From the comb of your sweet fragrant attributes.

36. For it is what made it a garden of delight
To which every scent-sniffing soul aspires,

37. And I directed it to the poetry of Ukaz in shyness
As if I sought to offer a star to the horizon,

38. And the wing of fortune does not feather with literary grace upon you
Except to find me without attachment.