1. May the helper of the oppressed one day change them,
And the establisher of good intentions not change them,

2. And the preventer of my sweet eyelids from their delightful sleep,
Sell my eyelids for a nap or lend them out,

3. And were it not for eyes, youth would not have tasted agony—
My anguished ribs make its sighing wail.

4. When their cups turn with a glance,
They turn a potion to intoxicate each anguished heart.

5. Do the hearts become tempted at all but their own indifference?
Do the resolute become apathetic at all but their own indifference?

6. Between the domes of Mina's hills from my two Jabals,
A sleepy lover in chains no one can release.

7. It's hard for the phantom of the imagination to meet her,
Fearing all but her guardian fall asleep.

8. Whenever dawn breaks over the meadow in slumber,
Musk and perfume cast on it their pall.

9. She folded me in the cloak of separation at night,
And the pilgrims hurried off faster than she.

10. She left but little of the birthmark on my love-crazed heart
Glory refused except to slowly, slowly rend it.

11. O inhabitants of the sides of Nu'man, treat gently
A cheek like right guidance in its wrongness.

12. If you wish, you could cool the burning fever
Kindled in it as your memory stirs it.

13. Would that fatigue tax you on my account,
Remaining impartial whether you draw near or go far.

14. Had my soul power over itself I would devote it
To you, though dangers on your account are grave.

15. But it belongs to the state of Shāwar,
So perforce regarding it I needs must consult.

16. If it permits this I'll do it, but if not,
I'll ask my soul's forgiveness and let its bitterness continue.

17. An excellent minister cured the breast of the ministry after
Its hidden, chronic hopes of healing complained;

18. It was crowned by him with reverence, its crown,
Its dais grew radiant and its throne exulted.

19. Never did the ministry not know that surely
Its course would bend back toward you.

20. We used to see your place among us there,
The eyes that are most correct could see it even in its blindness.

21. Islam has known that you're its sword—
Just so the white night recognizes its light.

22. What mill has turned but Shāwar was not
Its pole dispensing grace and woe?

23. By God, the days you spent
Whose excellences on the days of time additions make,

24. In which you set up cords of cunning
To wind round the neck of Time against you bitterly,

25. When the horses mention them, say the neighing sound they made,
And if generosity recalls them, say the pouring rain.

26. Not a horse but its saddle is smoothed
Not an atom but its curve is bent.

27. The firmaments have taken on their backs
Burdens of your resolution until your rising cracks their rising.

28. Going and returning toward certain victory their orientations,
Rising and setting toward a manifest opening their horizons.

29. Protected by them the heart of empire one possessing forever
Clouds of sublime aid and a screaming host.

30. Against them the hillock of your Ruzzīk family dashed into pieces,
Their pleasure fractured and their staunchness split.

31. Arms and aiders were smashed by them
Till they despaired of ever mending the wreckage.

32. When their eyries were empty of their eagles
And their eagles had flown for fear of your prowling,

33. You bestowed the best nurture on infants,
And a nurturer of lion cubs nurtures their whelps.

34. You pardoned though you had the power
To harm those who would not pardon you, O Able One.

35. No wonder your enemies died through your forbearance—
The breasts of the able are truly their tombs.

36. I saw men who attacked them with blame
And those traits set my reason to making no choice.

37. Shall I deny a kindness O Father of Conquest you conferred on me
Opening their doors to me and their veils?

38. Far be it from you to approve blaming comrades—
Your sharp sword protects their sanctuaries.

39. Your practice taught me to hold my tongue
I saw you spill bloods and then restrain them.

40. Westward you poured your unsullied blades to purify it
So westward my tongue overflowed its constraining cords.

41. Viziers are but forerunners
The first of them passed and the last met him.

42. If the metaphor's verified in you
You rose up suns when their houses set.

43. If I haven't gained wealth in their days
Those are clouds—nay, they breed the rain.

44. Clouds whose rain I've never drunk but
I see betrayal in blaming the pond they left.

45. I'm a proclaimer of their good deeds concealed
A denier of blessings I'm thankful for.

46. In me for thanking benefactors are kind acts
Whose reins match the outstretched hands.

47. Innate to me, pardoning and discernment,
Brides of reason no dowries price.

48. With the gift you've given me of dew
To you I gift it, enriching it.

49. I bring it you with softness and weight—
Its verse like any Jarīr or Farazdaq.

50. Pure Arabic in poetry and entourage
When a people's time comes, their poetry and clan.

51. So hear no praise but what I say—
Eyes and houris are not the same.

52. I see the states of empires pass away but
Through ones like me their revival and resurrection come.

53. When the bodies of a people wear out
It's the burnishing of this speech reveals their hidden depths.

54. And the rhymes will forget their femininity
As masculine beauty takes the splendid mention.

55. O Father of Triumph, kindness is a thing
Dependent on the world's breadth and you steer it.

56. When you've accomplished every duty for the world
I've a simple need to ask of you—fulfil its difficulty:

57. Add to the cell where I lodge, residing
There my state and enriching its poverty.

58. Confer on me there through your hand a boon
Your justice a protector from the Christians' wrong.