1. Greetings, my two friends, mother of nobility
And beware of her doe-eyed glance

2. For in her eyes is cure and disease
For one who is lovesick, and the disease comes before the cure

3. Many a glance from her to us is soft
Despite facing indifference, an indifferent life was not good

4. On Tuesday night, she made my heart sick
On Saturday, she was harsh to me in my misery

5. And on Thursday morning, she had killed me
Then she went out wearing a green dress

6. The day she said: When I see you in my sleep
You have afflicted my eye with disease

7. And my heart impatiently longed to be near you
As if I was floating in the air

8. Then she turned away, saying what Hammā said about us
Oh my people, my blood is unlawful for Hammā

9. Do not blame her, for she is of the women
Who are chaste, glancing with the glances of gazelles

10. And the man was unfaithful, his love grew cold
And he spent his days suffering from love

11. Tell her of my need, and say to her
Did you forget the secrets beneath the cloak?

12. And I stand weeping for you intensely
Between the prayer niche and the pulpit

13. And the girl said: Return to me with patience
Befitting the traits of the wise

14. So fear Allah regarding a man whose love
Made him eloquent, though his enemies long slandered him

15. You distanced him, so he lies slain from longing
As if he is floating in the air

16. So remember the loyalty I showed you
It should suffice you, though you doubt generosity

17. A man may do wrong, but he does not break his word
So fulfill what you said, for the sake of virtue

18. For the promise of a noble one is a debt upon him
So pay it, and gain it from the debtors

19. Then she began to weep, and said
What was between us was like the shade of the mirage

20. Oh Suleima, arise and go to him
You are my heart's delight among my friends

21. Convey my greetings, and say to him
Everything is destined to perish

22. So I consoled myself with music instead of her
And my heart was comforted, though there is no comfort

23. A desolate, expansive wilderness where the eye sees
Wastelands that the women cross with the walk of women

24. From the hidden land she roams
In the open desert, desert next to desert

25. I endured it, though the little owl cries at dawn
Or something like a cry

26. When the ostrich said, and the deer bolted
With their fawns, bolting with great speed

27. With hands outstretched, the boat sails
A fan that stirs faster than stirring

28. Its goal is to visit al-Uqba in the kingdom
And so see its sea and borrow from its buckets

29. A Maliki whose war had peeled from his face
As the darkness peeled away from the light

30. Oh you who ask about resolve, excellence, valor, bounty and loyalty
Such traits are with the son of Salm

31. And more of the same in his singing
Like the irrigation of the rain, his hands extend

32. To both neighbor and traveling companion
God has forbidden that you see the likes of the son of Salm

33. The greatest blessing, feeding the poor
The birds flock wherever the seeds are scattered

34. And cover the homes of the generous
He does not give you hoping for praise or fearing blame

35. But tastes the sweetness of giving
Not because nobility is his trait

36. Rather, it is the nature of his forefathers
The only pleasure of the generous son of Salm

37. Is in giving, and steed prepared for the raid
He fears not war, nor worships wealth

38. Rather, he disdains praise
Easygoing, in one hand lightning that rains

39. And in the other, poison to the enemies
He clothed me in silk and served me fine wine

40. And gave me a smooth-cheeked virgin in marriage
So God ordained that he die as our sons died

41. And previous generations
He went in his bier, and I went to Uqba to complain, and he said, without consolation:

42. If he was fair, I now have the like of him
Ready among the noble and eloquent

43. So I pledged to him, he breathed heavily like the scent
Of a lion – go relieve your brother in distress

44. So may God reward, for your brother son of Salm
When good deeds were few, the best reward

45. His hands shaped me until I was as if
A man of wealth, of the secrets of the wealthy

46. I care not if the worthless one reconciles or sheds
Tears of regret, for the sincerity of the beloved

47. And his handful, praised white, sufficed me
Against accusations, a white handful

48. He earns praise through flattery, and sees censure
As dreadful as the venomous, molting snake

49. A king who furnishes platforms with grace
And waters the blood on the day of bloodshed

50. How many hands he has over us and among us
And white hands upon the peers

51. A lion who devours men, and if you wish, a abundant rain
Thick, pouring rain from the sky

52. Standing by the banner, defending
Men from violating the sanctity of caliphs

53. Peace be upon Uqba, lasting
When he marches beneath the banner’s shadow