1. When the reproacher launched his arrows of blame at me,
My heart took them in though they did not miss their mark.

2. When he saw the dream come to nothing despite my striving,
He rejoiced, while I was downcast when it failed.

3. After having been a ferocious lion, I became
Meek, preferring in such a state to live in peace.

4. O reproacher! How often does the dawn
Follow a night, however dark!

5. I am that high-minded one whose passion's flames the songs ignited,
Yet reason refuses to be inflamed.

6. Not all Indians are alike, nor is every wine maker
A Counterfeiter. Let him who will, say what he wants!

7. Happy is he who finds them gentle when he comes to them submissively,
Yet views their submissiveness as violence when he ignores them.

8. Who lavishes his food on them while the abandoned ones
Pass the night hungry amongst them - ferocious beasts.

9. If we seek their help in matters of glory and faith, we will find them
Supportive, whether we plead or remain silent.

10. They were singled out from Quraysh for their abundant grace, since they overwhelmed Quraysh with their favor.
When they governed the firm mountains of polytheism, their blows knocked them down however firmly grounded.

11. Whenever the deadly snakes of misguidance hissed malice,
Their hissing was silenced by blows from their clubs.

12. They who were insolent, whom the Ignorance made careless,
Were repressed by them with firm discipline.

13. They charged me with heresy and sin although
My face is innocent of artifice and make-up.

14. I found old age to be the finest adornment
For the spiritual aspirant, giving him new life.

15. It increased my insight into your love, O consolers,
So I gain vitality whenever I seek replenishment.

16. I have not lived in comfort since I gained insight,
Nor have I trodden the path of knowledge heedlessly.

17. My brothers! Why should we blame the penitents
Along with those who persist in sin unrepentant?

18. My cushions and I are not from the same origin;
Side by side we were not in al-Husayn's home.

19. When fate squeezes my eyelid shut,
It will not find my eyelid squeezed shut.

20. And when I weep with cheeks sunken,
My weeping is more forceful than my sunken cheeks.

21. Iraq's womb won intimacy with him,
While the womb of Yathrib complained of deprivation.

22. The singers there substituted their tender ways
For harshness, increasing their discontent.

23. Empty quarters walking gracefully while the darkness interrupts them,
Not if the foot trips, but if the ropes break, it screams.

24. After the stars of Ahmad's house whose brilliance dispels gloom,
A cloud from which rains do not pour.

25. The seal of Messengers, the polished blade of virtue,
The fountain from which the virtuous seek overflowing fullness.

26. The Lord of the Pool who guarantees drink on a day
When the watering places are crowded with the thirsty.

27. He whose light pierces the wasteland with the illumination of justice after it had dimmed and faded away.
For him who said, granting redress to the seeker,

28. "Take reprisals as you wish from me," he was sincere without deceit.
And he gave to that executor, he was truly magnanimous.

29. He who rescued the situation when it was desperate with sword and spear, not leaving it to the Abyssinians.
His sword did not miss its mark at Badr, Uhud or Hunayn,

30. Nor was he ineffective at the proper time.
Rather, at Hunayn he turned back the charging lions,

31. A lion who leaves lions scattered in panic.
The day when swords went astray randomly hacking,

32. And spears wandered around piercing wildly.
When the confederates were like swarms of locusts

33. And the Jews were like butterflies.
The fires of their battle were extinguished by his sword,

34. A flashing blade to quench their raging fires.
When he shook his throne it shook with undisputed authority,

35. Toppling thrones however lofty and high.
With an irresistible blow he broke through the dense squadron,

36. Scattering the dense battalion in all directions.
He inflicted devastating blows as he fought them

37. And deadly stabs with thrusts of his spear.
When their chests clung together then separated in the fray,

38. Their hearts gaped open and scattered in pieces.
When the people disputed various opinions,

39. He refuted the disputants with irrefutable arguments.
By him the dark night hastily receded,

40. And by him the brilliant day rushed forward.
He waters the devout freely as if

41. He would never have his fill of their thirst.
He is indifferent to the censure of the critic

42. If he faces the critic's censure with determination.
O people of Ahmad! Your love is a pure love that has penetrated us,

43. Both publicly and privately, universally and specifically.
A grave in Karbala that rains mercy, however much

44. The rain clouds pouring down mercy rain.
In it, the flowers of Spring burst into bloom,

45. Troops of the blossoms of Spring bursting forth in profusion.
The palms of its walls have decorated it,

46. And it is enough that the serpents adorn it!
There is that holy precinct safe from transgression;

47. No shameless person has coveted its sanctity.
Not the oppression of the oppressed nor the oppression

48. Of the oppressor exists if the Oppressor desists.
A flood of reverence that defeats misguidance

49. Whenever the reverent act like torrential rain.
I cannot mention al-Husayn with tender care

50. Except that my breast is torn with anguish as I remember.
When they said that the son of Ahmad's daughter had perished,

51. I said: "Never! The son of Ahmad's daughter shall not perish!"
It was not by their might that he passed away, but he passed

52. Beyond the reach of a day that would not cease from violence.
The shifting sands of time sweep against encampments with determination

53. And assail shelters relentlessly.
The Fates prepare the grass of the wilderness for fuel

54. Then set all the grass aflame.
What multitudes of death's goblets that do not cease

55. To extract life with repeated sips!
We are of them: one day the dust of our decay

56. Will fly about in the air, frightening us like a nocturnal bird.
If a devoted friend had protected the family of the devoted,

57. My companions, not strangers!
Abu 'Arar defended them devotedly,

58. And Abu Kharrasha defended them savagely.
But al-Husayn was more deserving of safeguarding

59. Openly, so why did he meet with betrayal?
O people of enmity who could not be appeased!

60. Among them there was no person of piety or conscience.
Iblis openly disobeyed them

61. Except for a few spared from his disobedience.
They treated eminent men lightly, so they were degraded

62. When they treated the eminent lightly with impudence.
The death of the noble one revived hopes

63. Of days from anguish which they could not avoid.
How did the fingers of Shimr trem-ble so that they

64. Refused to trem-ble before him in dread?
How were his palms not numb with fear

65. So that Husayn would numb them with panic?
When will the ailments of the people of guidance subside?

66. Or approach them without subsiding?
For when the Hellfire fiercely threatens the devout,

67. It is extinguished, while they are restored, purified and cleansed.
O riders, the most ruinous riding

68. Is when the shameless man rides as a chief.
You only prodded Yazid toward the Fire

69. As you were herded to it, far from deliverance!
You wished he would be your young lover

70. That you might run the world riot; instead he was a pimp!
Like scabby camels, you see no virtue in noble deeds

71. Unless it fills your bellies.
With the stupidity of Ghitafiyan you went ahead of

72. Barkush the Monk or Khurkhash the Pig.
If in spirit you were doves, O stony hearts,

73. You would be doves, not bats!
O breasts that were tombs for the dust of decay

74. Then obtained for themselves a borer from it!
They were mellow unripe grapes at Badr

75. That could not bear to ripen.
In Yazid, O my masters, there is a wondrous thing

76. That sets my thoughts ablaze and none can extinguish!
Your kingdom burdened with one who is too insignificant

77. To be called your carpet-spreader.
Only because the red camels of ignorance

78. Surrounded him, making him surrender.
O you who censure me for loving those

79. Whom I will not stop loving!
If the snarling dog barks at the peddler,

80. The religion has majestic lions to make the dogs shut up.
The ink of life today is not what it used to be dense,

81. Nor is the quill pen like it used to be supple.
Through Hashim we felt the throne was secure,

82. Feared no more its shaking.
There it is! Do not worry about cheeky lies or wagging tongues,

83. Though cheekiness and wagging tongues may be excused.
A platter containing varied appetizers -

84. With it the greedy gourmands are sated.
The sea of al-Sanubarri swelled with its meaning

85. And his sea is still surging.
A composition of admirable, polished verses -

86. The more I augment it, the more polished it becomes.
Thus it penetrates the heart, etching itself

87. Audibly in the hearing of those who read it.
However much the rainclouds spread and thicken,

88. The rain implores them to keep pouring down.
A partisan who faints when his side prevails

89. While the hypocrites pretend to faint with him.
So they are herded to the Fire like sheep,

90. Just as they herded you to it - far from salvation!
You wished he would be your libertine lover

91. That you might make the world a libertine haven; instead he was a pimp!
Like mangy camels, you see no good in noble deeds

92. Unless they satiate your gluttony.
With your Credulous stupidity you surpassed

93. Barkush the monk and Khurkhash the pig.
If you were birds, O stony hearts,

94. You would be doves, not bats!
O breasts that were graves for the dust of decay

95. Then drew forth from it their own gravedigger!
They were unripe grapes at Badr

96. That could not bear to ripen.
In Yazid, my lords, there is a marvel

97. That sets my mind ablaze and no advice can extinguish!
The cushions of your kingdom were borne by one

98. Too base to be called your carpet-spreader.
Only because the red she-camels of ignorance surrounded him

99. Did he surrender to being herded by them.
O you fault-finders of my love for one

100. Whom I will never stop loving!
If the snarling dog barks at the peddler,

101. The religion has regal lions to silence such dogs.
Today’s ink of life is not what it used to be dense,

102. Nor is the quill like it used to be supple.
Through Hashim we felt assured, trembling

103. At what might make the throne tremble.
There you have it! Neither fear gossip of the talebearers,

104. Nor talebearing of the gossipers!
A platter containing varied appetizers—

105. With it, the greedy are gratified.
The sea of al-Sanubarri surged with meaning,

106. Its sea still surging.
A composition with admirable, elegant verses—

107. The more I extend it, the more refined it becomes.
So it etches itself into the heart when it carves,

108. And echoes audibly in the ears of its reciters.
However much the rain clouds thicken and spread,

109. The rain implores them to keep pouring.
A partisan who faints when his team prevails,

110. While the hypocrites pretend to faint along with him.
So they are herded into the Fire like sheep,

111. Just as they herded you into it—far from salvation!
You wished he would be your libertine lover,

112. That through him you could make the world bawdy; but he was a pimp!
Like scabby camels, you see no good in noble deeds,