1. A young man realizes whatever he wants when he rises in a land
Though his body and honor know no rest, duty-bound while his heart is all sorrow

2. He makes the wilderness bear his needs and the spacious, rolling sands
If he finds honor behind an obstacle he goes though it be over burning sands

3. Leave us to enjoy the wine though delight is but borrowed
And leave the wishes be though a wish is but yearning

4. May no good land make me dwell to spoil me, nor home make me stay
Nor time when I’m not the best of those who live in it, of highest rank

5. How much contentment in a ragged, threadbare cloak, neither pure nor hiding filth
And the merit of corrupt livelihood, unsettled, with neither chastity nor riches spurned

6. My soul despaired that I might chance upon a joy amid what grief has been my wont
I see the eyes of those who envy me reddened, feigning beautiful patience

7. On my face appears to them the water of acceptance while inwardly fire smolders
And whenever my time declined I masked my state and thanked fate

8. Until my heart died and so my breast became its tomb while my body was its shroud
Who will empower destiny to vitalize me or time to release me from this age

9. So rule the arena and say not that I fell short of my goal or stumbled
Cruel fate has shut to me the roads of Hejaz, Sham, and Yemen alike

10. I want no enterprise to lift me up but that my resolve turns from it bending
The days have ended both my wealth and theirs, either in gain or loss

11. Cast out where the imported horses are, neither turned out to pasture nor fed grain
A butt for sorrows - how arrows fell on me, wounded through and through

12. No joy to gain nor wealth to delight me at the rising of the shining star
As if she never tried my patience nor roused in me hardened strength

13. Nor knew what true and virtuous men I made my backing and defense
The noblest in spirit, most generous of hand, and greatest of us in bounty

14. Those who built the ancient glory and established its towering height
A people, when the year grew harsh, their sun darkened and owners of meadows slept

15. When each shepherd’s dog feared its butcher, who let no sheep live nor cattle fatten
They repelled its leanness until it returned revived and thriving

16. They met it with cheerful, lucky faces laughing, and hands that give
The justice of kings increased it in abundance, transgression, and long-practiced wrong

17. A heedless time ruled the people, deeming finest what is vilest and basest
They set up traditions and the people followed, augmenting them

18. To religious law, those traditions were attached, appended
I clung to the most splendid of magnificent lords, whose hand to me was strongest

19. I tended him, brother to spring, while his welfare was my repose and joy
Glory said to me, as I praised it, “these branches have borne such fruit”

20. He stood loyal on the king’s watch defending what he saw clearly
Keen of insight, not needing to squint for first glances

21. His palm warded off all aimed arrows, whether glancing or piercing
The great man sufficed, and his judgment made what was towering bow down

22. He established the kingdom, his back unbending while fate before it bent
When its arbiters refused, obeying no order contained in its missives

23. Business was difficult, so they sought his healing and the illness took hold
They said: the leader, so their fears were calmed - at his name they submitted

24. The refractory kingdom returned to obedience after its defiance
No longer a rebel but a neck obedient, compliant, and yielding

25. With hands that execute, seldom at rest, skin calloused and tongue sharpened
When his spear rent an army you would think he writes with a reed

26. If he spoke well you would take him for one fluent with the eloquent pen
He saw high rank as the finest of things so made precious wealth a trifle

27. Giving generously until the generous said: “he has deposited his wealth with me for safekeeping”
The gold coin felt lonely away from his coffers, so rarely did it lodge with him

28. Say to Abu'l Qasim, God’s distributor, whose meaning is conveyed without names
Every time night falls, I complain to you of a stabbing longing

29. And an affliction that rends my garment and mine inner parts when I turn toward you
Naught beautiful have I seen since you left, though people and times change

30. I wished that seeing you would cure the longing, if wishes could grant all wants
I resigned myself to pining so I allowed myself to abandon kith and kin for you

31. I asked leave of life though barren, but life granted no leave
I said: perhaps a rift will mend, and close from your generosity to fill

32. And perhaps a harsh time will turn toward me by what you have power over time to do
But separation denied me in kindness, protecting though from one deemed injurious

33. If I bought an hour with you for what lies between my ribs I would not complain of fraud
So reproach not a young man whom longing drove from devotion - no sin did he commit

34. Passion emboldened him to bear travails - how many days like it would make one a coward
Perhaps he who urged him on will return him to you, more precious and dearer in worth

35. So he may come back valiant and fierce, though under your care gentle and tame
If an adverse fate parts me from you while luck persists in rebellion

36. And a time away suggests I cannot find with you what I do not possess myself
Then specters of you, vanishing, will come to you - spirits who, when we speak, materialize

37. From those women no tongue ever loosed the like, arousing any ear
If the speaker but waved it with his hand I would gain from that my ransoming

38. Kings before you borrowed affection and tied for me the necklace of favors
So hear them, early and late, pacing round you, encompassing with gifts

39. And exalt the day of festival - with this necklace of strung pearls
None saw the like, more beautiful around his neck, since Kisra left

40. Attain the height of joy and remain, for me and for glory and for us
And be through this ensured by God that you will live, and my faith assured

41. Stand before you, vigorous, deputizing for me in this prayer and affection
And seek one who succeeds me, echoing this wish and love