1. He was generous, and grudging did not afflict him with its affliction,
Nor did anything other than the kissing of lips cure him.

2. He became blind, without doubt,
Because he was in love with one he did not see.

3. And he went forward until he bought
The doe of the deer from among the lions of dignity.

4. A gazelle, and the musk of the gazelle is in a pouch,
It is found but the musk of that one is in veins.

5. A branch whose flowers are eyes,
And the eyes of lovers are the hands of executioners.

6. A sun who sees the sun but
Only sees his face in the mirror from it.

7. A houri of human perfection, smooth of sides
Not like a Bedouin woman in her gown.

8. In his glance is rest, and his eyelids
Are cups, and the pupils of his eyes from which we drink.

9. He wore the sword, so we said a youth,
And he came to the house, so we said a visitor.

10. I envy the word he said when
His mouth’s expression, when it yawned, kissed it.

11. O you who dwell in a heart in which dwells
One who has contained in it what it contained.

12. I felt safe from death since the day
I drank from your spittle the water of life.

13. Oh, for a life that has passed in which
Were its most delightful and sweetest times.

14. Days when my branch was green and fruitful
And before the prime of my youth flew away.

15. And my life was bliss at its sunset,
Yes, for grey hair is nothing but its plucked petals.

16. And in the pebbles of the heart lies the kindling of passion -
So marvel at a kindling hidden in pebbles.

17. In me is a burning that weakens strength,
And in me is a sorrow that tires sorrow’s consolers.

18. Time has been unjust to me in its ruling
And increased in its tyranny and aggression.

19. Time hangs no ropes for anyone
Except the son of Ali, for whom its comforts were hung.

20. And let its injustice cease, for my back is protected
From it, because I dwell in its protection.

21. And you, O troubles of time, tomorrow
Leave me be, for I reside in its groves.

22. Indeed, the columns of religion are my fortress, so
This time cannot strike any sparks from its flints for me.

23. The finest part of time is more fearful of its might
And feared that its authority might penetrate it.

24. The conversations of its masters have flown high
In beauty, and its steps have lengthened in the heights.

25. More fragrant than amber, truly, so
The masters do not kiss any but its soil.

26. The masters follow its tracks
Behind it, hastening and running are its entourage.

27. The greatest of them in breast for bearing troubles
In generosity and relieving afflictions.

28. So every being has tasted its generosity
And every land has been watered by its rain.

29. It scattered the collection of wealth in munificence through it
Until we thought its wealth belonged to its foes.

30. Its abode is not the abode it desired -
That is the destination of delegations, the lodging place of guests.

31. And the son of Ali has never ceased being
At the pinnacle of the exalted ones at the start.

32. In his mind is fire, and coolness,
And strength in his resolve, and tenderness.

33. Content with the world and what
The kings of earth seek from it except his approval.

34. Were it not for him, for the kingdom and its establishment
It would be collapsing, its joints coming apart.

35. The ties of the kingdom were made firm by his views
And from it was added strength to its strengths.

36. And by him was acquired for all people
The keenest wit and amplest comprehension.

37. O son of Ali, you are the one in whom
God placed the secret of secrets.

38. You are the one who granted me blessings
That I have conveyed when narrators related them.

39. You have spread my hopes after decay
You have revived my fortunes after oblivion.

40. Far be it from me that I would be wronged in a state
Whose motto is justice - far from it be its tyranny!

41. It has restrained my enemies and repelled them,
In their rage when invaders came against me.

42. He met them before me, for in them
Is none who can touch me with evil.

43. If the turning of fate stretched toward me
One hand, both its hands would be paralyzed.

44. And the one who intends me harm has failed -
The stars of archers do not reach the star.

45. They said to him, “Do you have wealth?” “Yes,”
From his overflowing munificence I have wealth and position.

46. My state is like jewelry from his favors,
And mandated charity is not taken from jewelry.