1. O you who pass the night in comfort, arise,
For the outlines have become visible to us.

2. Turn towards a ruin utterly decayed,
As if its vestiges and features

3. Were plaits in a pattern interwoven
Which time has erased and corroded.

4. Or like Hebrew script effaced,
Its verses washed away by pouring rain.

5. Therein remains only
A smouldering, ever-burning fire,

6. And leaves concealing, dense and dark,
And a solitary, broken tent-pole,

7. And the basin of a pool and an ancient cistern
Into which the rains pour.

8. So it remained in a state of desolation,
As if I were a sick man cured

9. Or one who drank the dregs of coffee
Prepared long ago.

10. I asked the house, feigning ignorance,
“What has brought you to this?”

11. A house of quiet dignity
Whose utterance is refined.

12. It rises in pairs
And its waist is close-girt.

13. It almost falls backwards when it comes
For its rear is made to sag by its burdens.

14. However much it may neigh, you would think
It nothing but a whinny.

15. As if armed with the weapons
Of a soldier whose lance has alarmed him.

16. It has a front like the lightning of a cloud
Torn asunder beneath it.

17. And a nostril like one with bell
Adorned with stud of silver.

18. It champs at a bit
As though it were a string of pearls.

19. Or hamstring of a hill
Wounded in its prominent part by the pleiades.

20. Not a gazelle of the gazelles
Frightened by one who has startled it.

21. Who turns towards the archer of glances a child
Who seems a tender nursling,

22. One day in the prime of youth but no more
Tempting him nor his stately beauty.

23. A toy, a little candle,
Rolled up, whose shades are darkness.

24. If it addressed an ascetic in devotions
He would be tempted to dote on it.

25. I could cut off my hand as a pledge
To be slapped by her heavy bracelets.

26. And a bosom the belt can hardly span
So that the gentle wind makes it flutter.

27. I am son of the greatest king in glory
And he whose sovereignty humbles all necks.

28. I am son of the most open-handed of kings
In generosity when the clouds pour down.

29. I am he who is named Abu Ali
When the noble youth goes into hiding.

30. And fate bares its blade
Amongst the living in the inviolable market.

31. My will is like my sword and my munificence like my palm –
Envied by the pouring rains.

32. I will leave the kings fallen as prey
While the birds of death hover over them.

33. I will take the fortresses by force
With a brigade whose onslaught is immense.

34. I will glut the swords altogether
In a battle the horror of which is great.

35. I will mount the back of every unbroken steed
Which stretches out its flank to receive the loved one.

36. I will make the earth tremble with horsemen
Until even the forbearing man will glisten.

37. Hold off, defiant kings, hold off,
For I am the exemplar of loyalty.

38. And I challenge the highground and my might is
My elemental being from of old.

39. I have prepared curved swords
That flash from the surface of my scabbard,

40. As if a forceful giant
Spreading its wings in circles as it hovers,

41. As if a threatening planet
Set in motion by an accursed demon.

42. And in my hand a supple spear
Like salt in its crystalline form,

43. Wherewith to spill blood in abundance
In order that opponents may submit.

44. God is my coat of mail against misfortunes
And my refuge, and He is merciful to me.