1. He loved her with intense passion
And took the palms as his resort and refuge

2. And the soft sands as his bed
Where he spread out lush carpets

3. The shy gazelle grazed her first born there
Safe from predators and secure in the trunk's shadow

4. It would be her sanctuary if fate allowed
To rest secure, free from all who pursue and threaten

5. But the fates persisted in tormenting her
And disasters till she was resigned to humble herself

6. And she dared to approach the fearsome lion
When before she had never dreamed of such recklessness

7. O God, guide her, for to attempt the lion
Is to court certain death if she goes too near

8. Lead her through the valley gently if she must go
Though it tear my soul apart and I weep

9. The wolf pack had turned in for the night
And the flock was together, no longer dispersed

10. Then he emerged again aflame with rage
Bent on savaging whatever quarry crossed his path

11. Where are the protectors of Mina now?
Three there were, not four as duty demanded

12. They broke faith, no pact honoured
No vow to guard the house restrained them

13. Lost in the sands they swore never to let
The sun rise on their negligence and lack of care

14. The shepherd raced to their lord
But his pleas and efforts were fruitless

15. By your life, without your graceful visage
My soul could not have dared to dream

16. Nor hope my pleas might touch your heart
Beyond voicing my plaints in the hope you might hear

17. My friend, keeper of passion’s secret
There are rents in the veil of our hidden love

18. Hints could betray us, we must mend
Any breach with care and discretion

19. O fair deceiver, have you no pity
For this prisoner bound by devotion?

20. You stole my heart entire and healthy
Only to return it sliced to fragments

21. I lost my patience and raged for a time
Then bewildered, even rage abandoned me

22. You among them, my only obsession
Remember your promise that faithful day?

23. When you captivated my flesh by guile
You displaced my heart and lodged in my ribs

24. Return for one night, be my companion
And make amends if amends can be made

25. They said, "We have advised, so heed"
No whisper affects this unhearing rock

26. A heart open to gentle rebuke - yours lacks
Such needs, and ears that never comprehend

27. I said "What do you think?" They replied
"We see the only course is to leave them be"

28. I said "Then go, but that proud heart
When stung by disgrace, will only swell in rage"

29. He wears duplicity like a cloak
Hurt by his own treachery, yet benefiting too

30. He ensnares friends and divides them
Never finding satisfaction in any intimate association

31. Indeed, God protected the Peerless One
Shielding the eye with its lid, providing for him

32. And securing for the lofty aims of his faith
Its pure and rightly guided path

33. And the One, the Everlasting among his sons
Though loss has wounded the hearts of all their mothers

34. He gathered the scattered pearls of virtue
That no other could collect in one place

35. He brought out the latent generosity in men
Unrestrained in giving, the first to respond to appeals

36. He managed the days wisely, rising to their challenges
So they titled him the Capable and Competent

37. He exemplified all the finest qualities of nobility
Then surpassed those models by his innovations

38. Molded from pure, lofty, Celestial clay
The substance that destiny imprinted upon him

39. The heroes of generosity and valor retired before him
Happy to follow where once they led

40. As he passed, he eclipsed every rival
Exposing all pretenders, however brave or generous their claims

41. And not least among the sons he sired, Muhammad
Chosen from among his branches to be closest

42. I cannot forget to recall the bright star
Whose halo outshone the full moon, his father

43. Yet we neglect famous Hatem of Tai
And cite instead the sower and planter of seeds

44. Until from his house arose a cloud
That dried up all springs that came before it

45. And poured down from that Peerless One a torrent
Drenching all, no place escaping its ample bounty

46. It carried a sword, words and helping hand
Striking as it willed, felling all in its path

47. It stretched out to the far horizon and grasped it
A hand that shattered all rivals, however firm their grip

48. And picked the ripe fruits when ready for harvesting
Leaving no opportunity for other gleaners

49. Pens compete to sing his praises, and poets vie
Each claiming to have reached his true worth

50. Generosity and courage both claim him as their own
Saying "By me he was inspired, from me he gained his energy"

51.
Your favor awakened me, though I see in people

52. Only those asleep, wrapped in slumber
The tides of fate turned away from me

53. When you rose beneath me, a hero concealed
You were tempted by fame and glory to think

54. I belittled you, saw you as insignificant
You filled my being, so how can I wish for more

55. When my wine cup brims or even overflows?
Under your shadow I turned my gaze

56. To the shore, and let my camels graze in fertile meadows
What care I if separators of companions should try

57. To wean me from you or attempt to turn me away
You enriched me beyond all people, I expend

58. Neither flattery nor guile to gain such wealth
And I scorn groveling to any ruling mortal

59. My honor is greater than such debased pursuit
When a wretch calls out urgently for his tribe

60. To save him from the tyranny of fate
I call upon the Family of Jafar

61. For protection, and my voice is heard
Sheltered by your blessings, happier am I

62. Than one who feeds on the choicest pasture
You clothed my life in green, trailing it

63. Between you, though it had been but dusty rags
Nights with you are like days in goodness

64. And days are brought together in blessing
If I complain fate has abandoned me