1. For whom are mirages in the desert setting?
The piercing-eyed correct them, yet they tilt.

2. We carry on through empty space the same
Ascending by decree of Time descending.

3. Their love's behind them, and the path ahead,
So they are true of gaze, though circling round.

4. They mill confusedly in their confusion,
And cry aloud, though long their cries are vain.

5. Iraq's soft sands they wish would firm in Nejd,
And Nejd's harsh flats make smooth where they might lie.

6. They did not know the Hijaz held their livelihood
In pasture which the live rain makes to thrive.

7. But Babylonian magic binds their reins
Which subtle minds and intellects enthrall.

8. Wild doves that lose their path to lovers' breasts
Still guide them where the spirit guides its own.

9. They carried faces dear in howdahs hid
And all the proud are mean when once brought low.

10. They shared out intellects in veils with eyes
That kill identities not to be killed.

11. They have requirements there and debts to pay
Slow, but the slowest debts are still repaid.

12. Their rulers scarcely know of them, so far,
Though to our necks they lie a burden sore.

13. The open country side refused all but disguise,
Though ancient tracks may still be traced once more.

14. There where we halted, forms resembled forms,
Bodies made featureless by long decay.

15. One wept for a disease between his ribs,
One for the severance absence would prolong.

16. We asked for Zumayya but circumspection,
That sways as spirits sway wherever they sway.

17. Yet we were pleased by brilliance in its ruin
For near-approaching to farness throatily.

18. If my request has tried the souls, 'tis their affliction,
And you're the touchstone, you, the pliant tool.

19. A comrade blamed you in me, so I blamed him too:
He said, 'Be tolerant.' And I said, 'Be cool.

20. 'Do beautiful women give at all unless mean-spirited?
Small wonder that the mean of spirit love the mean!'

21. Before you I was happy with a love that teased,
I gave my greetings to the blind, though great of soul.

22. I wearied of him safeguarding yet destroying
My troth, and him familiar whom I found so dull.

23. I turned Time's sons about to test them, finding many,
Yet few, so few, for friendship's seal could school.

24. No covenants are looser made than those dividing
Men, sworn to justice, biassed when they judge.

25. No followers than they who follow hard on riches
More surely contemptible in all their ways.

26. They claimed that chastity's a foolishness,
That earnest students may relax their moral code,

27. That begging brings esteem and makes one free and easy,
But all self-ease through begging makes one base.

28. If luck and honour give enough to live on
More than enough is vanity and stuff.

29. But it is glory and high deeds however painful
To quest, though questing engage you far and long.

30. To ride the owl-dark to its utmost limit,
And lengthen out your deeds however strong.

31. Our holy faith sought Heaven, and there attained it
By fixed resolve to pierce the floor of Heaven.

32. It gave the steeds of purpose neck, and drove them
In pursuit, that makes the purpose pure and proud.

33. Each day's for it, when winds blow, climate
That serves the cause and speeds the traveller well.

34. Stern anger scorns injustice to it, anger
Whose threatened armRecoil itself fears to feel.

35. When it intends, the deep roils like a woman
In childbirth, and the broad earth shudders all.

36. It took on glory's load, and straightened shoulders
To bear, though weariness made heavy that load.

37. It judged the judgements of dominion mildly
Though white had struck its hair with treachery.

38. Its pages, in events, are coats of armour,
Its pens, therein, tall spears it takes in hand.

39. They paralyze its foe until it seems battalions
They fill the sprawled horizon with its horse.

40. If our time too sees the Great Bear dancing,
Faces grow radiant, all delight, all smiles.

41. They beam at daybreak when the hollows darken,
And smile serene when spirits slake their thirst.

42. Without the grimness of a judging staff
It sways the soul, nor frights it with its thrills.

43. From them the old rebuke evokes no new objection,
Origins unfold but bases hold their ground.

44. Whenever fathers there add glory to their sons,
Grey cubs accept the black lion's glittering gifts.

45. How stars proceeding wish that they had kin
A folk for them, a tribe for them to own!

46. The rain-clouds grudge to Muza their riches
And wish on Muza's right to pour their rain.

47. Through the emir of state they reach zeniths
Magnificence, their circle and their crown.

48. I have beheld their glory face to face
Hearsay to us, by us passed mouth to mouth.

49. You gave unstintingly, we gave no niggard thanks,
You came to us aspiring, and attained.

50. This king never once doubted you a sun
To spread effulgence, sometimes set a while.

51. If you should ever set, the boons of your light stay,
For no unchanging motion rules your ring.

52. Nor do the people doubt you for a Muza
Where the years congregate and disperse again.

53. They loved you with a doting lover's love
For eyes will seal to eyes an ancient pact.

54. When there's consult, then you are there, none else;
When all agree, none other can agree but you.

55. And even if they found replacements, they imposed
No other's rule, for you cannot replaced be.

56. Umm al-Wuzara knows rule's an orphan without you,
A widow who must weep until you wipe her tears.

57. It casts her off for strangers to address her needs,
While her unworthy husband treats her with disdain.

58. Better that men desert than you, unique compeer,
Since no man equals your perfections sane.

59. One day exultant, one day stricken with grief-
The states of Time run neither smooth nor long.

60. Should you depart, glittering crowns of ages past,
Bereft of you, their course can but prolong.

61. You rectified them so it hurts you leave
Tumbled till you return to set all right.

62. It spends them till the jealous must feel shame
While base men take the gentle maidens' flwer.

63. Their surety is the day you will return-
However far your land, you will come back.

64. I roam unsettled, settle but a moment
Now up now down, ascending, ducking down.

65. Through the night's days my spirit's led.
Their flow ebbs out between us lingers long.

66. You disappear, but longing peaks no sorrow
In me. My lovely patience looms no more.

67. My state appears as restless as my tear
Yet my love's core is stranger to my face.

68. My bones alone feast on my flesh because of you
And yet return to you, turn sole to sole.

69. My land dried up. But in your closeness pour
At night the plenty that my meadows crave.

70. Make me your bailiff out of spite for those
Who'd envy me the heights I gain from you.

71. Support me with enough to meet my needs,
For you're my sponsor and provider both.

72. A blade whose lightning flash you've seen should cow you not
Even if, in withdrawal, it should rage.

73. The torrent may pour down, dry at its source one drop
The lance, though fleshless, may strike mighty blows.

74. Why should I fear your turning from me now
When you are absent from me, gone from home?

75. 'Gainst you, could cloud give comfort for an hour
Whose kindly rain pours down its boon on me?

76. God forbid your peace in showers not in essence,
True right of old does not twist around like you.

77. Firm causes spread whose speaking is renowned,
Overseeing your beneficence to me.

78. To find no pleasure in bestowing bounties
Or that I should not gain them and take stock

79. Is not your way - if wealth brings little profit
Or wealth's lord gives too sparely for your fame.

80. Make me your claim should increase go lacking -
On your munificence the poor depend.

81. You called hearts and their love leapt up like envoys -
Your passion envoy to the hearts you send.

82. You never praised with warmth, yet you evoked it,
All praise to other men than you - abuse!

83. No lack makes light your brilliant moon, no branch's
Wilt from your sapling casts you down or cowers.

84. No attainment spreads the hand of Time with prophecy
To discredit you - hand twisted, frail and cowed.

85. The Nayrūz came to you with joyful embassy
Of bliss unending, famed, of aspects manifold.

86. Its courier promised you eternity,
That you remain though all the world be gone.

87. Had Fate allowed, your days had never moved
Around the circling sun your course controlled.

88. To me they came from you, all maidens with light dowers
Which your munificence made weighty trousseaux.

89. They yearn for sisters in your homes
As the sweet young for mother ewes bleat loud.

90. There sisters have, or more than them, giant does
Stamping their honor, pawing your estate.

91. You favored her obtaining her good luck
So that her lord from you became as brother.

92. Had I divulged it, it would have been shamelessness,
Courtesy itself would teach me how to speak.