1. The morning star and the twilight of dusk evoke longing for him and remembrance,
An apparition lit a fire in my ribs for him,

2. He came seeking - may God not diminish his quest -
While without him tendencies and perils appear.

3. He strode from the heights of blessed Taif knocking
At my door and my companions' with tapping,

4. So he woke me, without waking my companions, and I had not slept,
But I bowed my head and sorrow took hold.

5. I obscured from him the secret of his coming
When regrets and thoughts asked about him,

6. And it is no shame that I obscured with lies
About him - but lies about him are shameful.

7. So I laid him down on my cheek, a bier on the soil,
To sacrifice him, so customs and traces would show.

8. And I settled him into the fear of my watching eyes
So curtains of my eyelids would fold over him.

9. The face of his night came to me, and the talk of his day
Lightened my worries - so speak - have the lines of darkness cleared?

10. And what was around me shone, and his scent was fragrant,
And nothing remained but the guest's phantom and news.

11. So I said "Has the sun risen or has righteousness appeared to me,
Or is it dawn time for the morning to depart?

12. Or has the pearl-white chamber extended its lanterns,
Upon which lights appeared amidst that?"

13. "Or has the breeze of the fragrant garden blown,
And those aromas in the open plain of the land?"

14. And I said to myself "You, best of visitors,
Come to me against my will to visit the house."

15. "You were far away, but your loving heart was not far
From its loved ones - no separation makes it remote."

16. "Tell me of your living - how are prior homes and dwellings
And covenants I have there, and secrets?"

17. "Cities of glory where glory grows from its soil
And raises the distinction of lovers there,"

18. "Which illuminate landing places for its seekers,
So suns and moons tie them to it."

19. "God chose it as a house by divine order -
A messenger selected over all creation."

20. "Alight at it, or visit it seeking,
Equally whether you live next to it or visit it."

21. "Without its allure none would be guided to it,
Without its loftiness those who stayed in its land would stray."

22. "Lands where the guest is protected - how not! -
And in it supporters cushion those within it."

23. "Blessed by it were those nights now gone,
Whose times of gentle bonding were daybreaks."

24. "I behold, if I wish, the soil of Ahmed,
However hopes roam and choose."

25. "Maybe another drink at the edge of blessed Taif
Will quench this fire's thirst."

26. "And how strange that resolve moves away from its palaces,
Yet longing for them has no waning."

27. "May God protect the days of the Masjid and grace it
With continuousdownpour of youths, streaming."

28. "And give life to the living, between Sule and Quba,
Gardens with no limits, having game to hunt."

29. "Dwellings that were resorts for the Prophet,
And places of revelation, where angels frequented."

30. "Sanctuaries where the Messenger and his companions covenanted,
Remnants that please and prefer."

31. "As if I see therein the Messenger, and around him
Those companions, attending."

32. "My yearning for it is a duty, and devotion to it
Is presence and my memories of its features are remembrances."

33. "I apologize for the resolve away from your plains,
And what lover parted from love has excuses?"

34. "I claim to be faithful, and that whenever
I fail to return to you one day, I am betraying."

35. "Upon you is God's peace, while the morning breeze blows
And sways aromatic branches of ban trees."

36. "And how strange that I complain of distance from you,
Of sadness - while with me in my heart are secrets."

37. "So my heart has excused it as confused, and my tears
As carnelian - for after this I have crossed lands,"

38. "I look for pardon for resolve away from your plains,
And what lover parted from love has excuses?"

39. "I claim that I am faithful, and that if
One day I do not return to you, I am betraying,"

40. "To you - God's peace, while the morning blows
And sways aromatic branches of ban trees."

41. "As if this were the last covenant with you,
And that peril and dangers are there."

42. "And that even if I am late to you, and lions
Prevent me from you - yet lions are patient."

43. "So there is no success but in plunging toward you,
And no longing except and perdition lies beyond you."