1. Longing still dwells in their abodes,
And memories of past trysts, though hopes lie torn.

2. Others disregard old friends -
Yet lone nomads cherish long-lost tribes.

3. Not every day of eld is bitter,
Nor every hour of youth filled with woe.

4. I put my trust in days I’ll never see,
Believing years beyond this age will glow.

5. My hoary head tastes yet life’s savor,
Though o’er my pate the raven caws its cry.

6. Your hands wrought this - if yours grew white,
And they to evil strayed, or else stayed true.

7. For this lost world I shed some tears, not all,
As from its ruins fast my steps withdraw.

8. I turn time's glass, and then behold
Strange things that rouse my wonder and applause.

9. Wild passion makes my heart its fool.
Marvelling how easily the heart is caught.

10. At times excused, then blamed in equal measure,
Because in new things old may lurk unsought.

11. Basest of all who claim to own riches
Are misers - generous souls brim over.

12. When fates refused all but our parting,
And absence made its false unfailing vow,

13. Back did I turn, though stifling swollen tears,
That hoped in secret for the chance to flow.

14. The weight of teardrops in an eye
Whose friends have left and will not homeward go

15. Is far more heavy than what most hearts harbor;
For mine is wrecked by love and exceeds its fill.

16. One toyed with by the threshholds of the tribes
Has his mind trussed while reason wings its flight.

17. But there are depths to which my soul descends
That turn aside from vulgar speech and sights.

18. When frustrated in some town, it gives no joy
That further lands spread wide beyond my plight.

19. In every land I own an hour that seems
To lift me above it, dimming clear insight.

20. Farthest from wells are first to scorn them,
Though all in time will equally depend.

21. Between my steeds and every goal sought
No barriers stand that darken my delight.

22. My mounts bear me to raid the tribes,
My land opens its arms to high renown.

23. Dawn spun its web o’er night’s dark cheek,
As though the blade had left the flesh laid bare.

24. Disdaining fare its sword failed to obtain,
Better than feasts of shame the dust its fare.

25. How can he fear disgrace whose true abode
Is deepest night, and spear-tips for its stairs?

26. No enemy can reach me by surprise,
With death the only door, and I the guard.

27. Tongues that would slander me are struck dumb-mute,
As though a mouth-strap inhibits their attack.

28. When anger seizes me, awe fills my features,
Stern but not contorted in abusive wrath.

29. If no gain comes from some town I ambitiously sought,
Its spaciousness brings me no joy or pride.

30. What use that far horizons lakes and rivers bind,
If when thirsty no sweet elixir slakes my drive?

31. I own an hour in every land as though
Mists around it dimmed heavens from my sight.

32. Wells first tasted prove most insipid later
When mouths seeks theirs in turns of blame or praise.

33. No barrier thwarts my wanton steeds from reaching
Heights whose stars could not surpass should they attempt.

34. You called and I obeyed, even had none
Other summoned me - only wind replied.

35. Mohammed's gifts are like soft rain from clouds
That overflows in plenty without end or limit.

36. A cheek that splits the darkness like lightning flashing,
A brow that rips the veil from night’s opaque face.

37. Yours to grant without an intercessor urging;
Others promise much but words are empty air.

38. A youth who makes foes tremble as though
He were sparks a kindling flame just caught.

39. When wanting, words not deeds reveal his aims;
Discretion, not fury, mirrors his wrath.

40. At times all bow to him in awe -
No arrogance moves him, he seeks no strife.

41. None but you are loved, though others boast
Fine gifts that embellish them in my deprived eyes.

42. To look on others weighs heavy on my gaze,
Though around them hopes and wishes twine.

43. No open hand unless ambitions tire,
No pardon comes until punishments exhaust.

44. You have a folk who when you spend are awed
By your harsh bounty and its rigorous demand.

45. If they win honor you rise and they retire,
If they gain glory you submit and withdraw.

46. You protect from the blame of enemies
A nearly captured herd, unfettered and unbound.

47. Not all who soar as high as you keep state,
Nor every falcon in the sky prefers the hunt.

48. The Caliph you support is but a brandisher
Whose conquests channel your own towering flood.

49. By your resolve his will prevails against all rivals,
As sharp as an eagle whose young take wing uncurbed.

50. After enraged factions sparked and stoked vain fires,
You gathered the common folk and doused rebellion.

51. When traitors treason spawned beyond all doubt,
You loosed a stroke no vanguard scout announced.

52. Lances prodded bellies till out leaked their contents'
Gore and spittle upon every disgraced cheek.

53. Hearts exulted, feet danced in delight,
Tongues savored the taste of blood they wreaked.

54. All lands heaped dirt upon them, pelted from below,
Raining stones and chasing them as hawks their prey.

55. You drove them off and set your chargers after,
While plains flowed with streams joined in one mass.

56. He plunged in seas of iron but found only
For his last drink dark waves of death and gloom.

57. Had you accepted his remorse he might have mended;
But when has regret availed the guilty doom?

58. I see a band, their steeds’ trunks rooted in the sand,
Left without armor save their lifeblood’s leaks.

59. These suffice to defend them from dishonor’s taint,
As collars guard the neck’s nape from the sword.

60. All who live flee them as though they wore
Flayed hides of camels marred beyond all cure.

61. In your household is a lion cub whose mane
Grows strong, its color the deepest dye of ink.

62. Trustworthy with secrets, no mere prattler,
Heading to glory, shunning gnat-like chatter.

63. Never soiled by fame - his calm implies
A lineage of long and noble birth.

64. From you I wish and wait for fortune’s greatest gift,
Hoping favor will relent and wrath subside.

65. Poetry is not my ladder to ambition’s height;
If praise, then what my lips shaped my soul denied.

66. My grandfather Ali, his Prophet, and Fatima
Forbade that I demean myself and take a bribe.

67. Do not dismiss the day you faced your enemy's blade,
Or that black night of aims that shall not hide.

68. By hopeless dreams the aggressor is destroyed
When frustrate from his goal and cast aside.

69. Take the prime of every age - its cream
Is gain for us, ripe fruits for us to pluck.