1. Recalling youth after gray hair is folly,
Most love is aberration and misleading.

2. The soul's passion is disgrace, no doubt therein,
Though in speech there's embellishment and adornment.

3. Take heed of slaying humans, for every slain -
His blood by human blood will be avenged.

4. In every land a victim to incite revenge,
Save a love-slain, by love's sword cut down.

5. Woes and calamities to men are trifles;
The pressing task's on stalwart shoulders hauled.

6. Of every polished Indian blade, its scabbard
Holds at its tip a death-dealer well honed.

7. The dove's fluttering eyelids, I'd not have known,
Were arrows, had her glances not revealed.

8. Blessed the abode, where, next to it, alighted
A sun-baked beauty of Bedouin descent.

9. As if her mouth, mixed with wine of bounty,
Was, ere dawn, mingled with clouds' sprinkled dew.

10. Of perfect build, no palace can delimit,
Neither fully contain her height.

11. In her eyes languor; above, doe-like shyness;
Below, on hips, swaying grace and flexing joints.

12. As if a gazelle, loosed from the herd,
But for the anklets - solid rings and chains.

13. She camped, bringing wares. Thus no cloud passed by
Without an anklet-gift for the palace retrieved.

14. At daybreak, gazelles in meadows pace,
As if garlanded with necklaces.

15. O quarter, host us! Do what guests will ask about!
For guests query hosts about entertainment.

16. Your terrain's hot winds - what have they done
To those frail, slender-waisted maidens?

17. Who are we, associated through the ages,
As promises were made and missives sent?

18. No lineage connects the names; you seek in vain,
Nor is the rope from names connected.

19. Cease praising one bringing no benefit!
For glory's prince is by such praise preoccupied.

20. He is the generous one whose kindness is lavish,
His wealth for those who hope is spent.

21. Neither friends are censured, nor manners faulted,
Nor chastity by gossiping mouths assailed.

22. I spread his virtues without proof, as if
Upon the path of glory he's been guided.

23. You who describe him, describe his qualities
To those aspiring favor. And you who praise him, say:

24. I find him needs no qualities you state.
Dawn's not obscured, nor is the dark unknown.

25. He is the heaven whose sides are firmly standing;
For it no width or length can be demarcated.

26. The prince needs no praise; so hush! No reliance
On what you've said can henceforth be placed.

27. Your benefit, if gained, is no great matter;
For eyes by promise founts are entertained.

28. O He who grants and denies, giving bounty
And confiscating - so He's feared and hoped!

29. God ordained you lasting bliss that will not wane,
And nothing God ordains can be reversed.

30. Your face is for the moons a calibrating balance;
Your palm's generosity puts clouds to shame.

31. So you are this age's most luminous dawn
While all mankind remains in gloom and darkness.

32. No Kulayb, Ma'n or Harim equals you -
Those decaying, worthless geriatrics!

33. If they but saw you as time brought them down,
They would aspire to you and ask your bounty.

34. The best thing you could grant those men
Is a kiss upon your right hand and a peck.

35. In manners and nature perfected were you;
Manners themselves seek to match manners.

36. Time's hand grasped degraded men, not kings -
Crowned am I, while in his gifts fettered!

37. From you enemies cower, diminished,
As if their sights toward you are blocked.

38. As if above them this feast's standards
Are birds - albeit ravenous vultures.

39. Let no men, parts of you, be far outdistanced -
White faced, noble ones, engaging you.

40. No regretters of bestowed bounty if granted,
Nor belittling if attained what they request.

41. They've reputations for praise that do not wear out
As garments fray when reputations shred.

42. You've preferred them, and they are a fragrant breed -
Above mankind they're elevated and preferred.

43. About the righteous, tales are not told
That about the people of both worlds are circulated.

44. O you from whom each day we gain profits,
Our harvest from its tenth cannot keep pace!

45. Live Hammadi's lifespan - his praise forever
Among Arabs and non-Arabs circulates.

46. To every lull in this world he has a place,
As dawn - every spot by it illuminated.

47. Joyful be on your feast day! Joy has no diverting
Until the final days from your blessings.

48. God support you in what you seek -
Sublimity! And God's trustee is Gabriel.