1. This time treats me carelessly as though
My troubles to it are of its least care.

2. I complained of my time for the harm of every blamer,
Evils and worries are no doubt sons of their mother.

3. What then can I expect to see pleasing me
From fate but increase of its worries and grief?

4. Oh, would that I knew! Is there a helper for my matter
When my fate deceives me with some of its tricks?

5. My chest was spacious but the misfortunes straitened it
To narrower than the stitching of the seamstress.

6. The turns of fate did evil so there came to me
Thieves who were causes of its worries.

7. When they saw me absent they hastened to
My being in misery, confused, and perplexed.

8. They surrounded it, thieves and robbers,
And every villain who cares not for blame.

9. They saw it and were greediest of men in yearning
To kiss it again and again in passionate embrace.

10. But that which it hid they were perplexed about its place
Now in its pocket, now on its sleeve.

11. It let loose its hair on him so that it was as though
It clung to musk of the gazelle with its mouth.

12. It would raise it up to the top of its head
And lower it lovingly to its breast when embracing.

13. My being laughs at it in its pocket
As the elegant flower laughs in its bud.

14. Had it a nose to smell it would not have transgressed.
So the smell of disgrace has the keenest nose!

15. It calls him my beloved! Stop and take me as companion
And do not stop from this matter before perfecting it!

16. But it has no hearing and my beloved is deaf,
And can the deaf hear the reproach of the critic?

17. It came fasting until when hungry it broke its fast on it,
And it is a deadly poisonous draft.

18. Had it fasted from it, its fasting for the two worlds would be complete,
And is the fasting of the steadfast not perfect?

19. If it makes my heel suffer from its deficiency,
Then I will surely cut its head off with determination.

20. Does it dare to steal from my being like a thief
And not fear drowning in the currents of its ocean?

21. When I drown it with the abundant billows
In its tide, it throws him on the ebb of its flood.

22. And who can I hope will explain the thief
To elucidate him in description if not naming him?

23. And if he does not name him outright then let him hint at him,
And if he doesn't hint then let him indicate generally!

24. I will uncover its foot with the remover of its slipper
And pull it off by a resounding slap.