1. The imagination promised we'd be next door neighbors this year
True as he said or rambling dreams?

2. He walked furtively, anklets jingling,
So they'd notice his approach if he came around.

3. Dusk - night's wing - where the wanton and the gossipers belong.
My haughty soul lead my body astray,

4. From my bed, so extremely sick and frail.
After my vow, none came back to see

5. Save my passion, which left me confused.
Nights remain that sleep was sweeter

6. Than closing eyes with insomniacs.
We were together, edge of night trailing on the vines

7. In a private union from people's spite.
Between us - gentle reproach - if you could hear it

8. I'd say: reproach is life amid people.
Languid eyes, if I admit what's in them

9. I'd clarify my excuse to the critic.
He shot me, I looked away. I said to him

10. Be just - you missed your shot and your target.
I fear when alone I might reveal myself

11. Show my affection - hide my pain.
I trick people about my love, keep it secret,

12. My torn heart - if not for my bloody eyelid.
Oh if what I left from my days

13. I could meet ahead of me!
Few my nights in Iraq - no matter -

14. I've spent long nights in Damascus too.
May God protect you from the misery of this age

15. A burden - and restore your happy days.
Soon may your help lift trouble from me

16. Your noble son's generosity after destruction.
Had kindness not made me a stranger

17. Clouds wouldn't know my longing kept me sleepless.
O most generous of people - of nomad and settled!

18. O bravest of all - Arabs and non-Arabs!
Striving to buy glory while others

19. Have retired from the pursuit.
Dazzling white swords - his symbols -

20. Easy, lofty, smiling aspect.
Giving people fine times, protecting

21. Truth on days of turmoil.
Shadowing heroes, disdaining to be called

22. Commoner grasping glory.
The white beads drip above his white

23. Like a love poem above verses.
With his Indian sword bare in times of panic

24. Composing order’s ornamented poem.
Through singular glory no other

25. Of the peninsula claimed but Islam’s glory.
On his horse the full moon and the clouds - his rain -

26. A heavenly vision made for building earthly visions.
Many a dreadful plain where the lions sleep

27. Under the canopies about to pounce but cannot see
To the heavens without eyes.

28. Its lines stretch claws to capture
Celestial mansions forcefully dismantled.

29. I trusted fate spitefully to favor me
With arrows so you’d shield me from its arrows.

30. When my feet stretched to faraway springs
You sufficed me, your sea overflowing justice.

31. I've never harbored treachery against one close.
Those melted waters quenched many years’ thirst.

32. You anticipated what drowned my past,
Destroying life before this day could end it.

33. But your timely gift rebuilt what was long lost
Amidst gifts bestowed through time.

34. While I’ve skipped over fine benefactors,
My praise turned to people of consequence and wisdom.

35. No one who used kind words to describe your kindness
Sought through that kindness to honor me.

36. He shot me while I looked away, so I said:
Be fair. You missed the target and the shooter.