1. By my life, though he has parted from his love at dawn,
Indeed he confided to the desolate his secret displayed.

2. And bid farewell to pleasure, now grown old,
And let fall a tear, though glory is precious.

3. And plunged into a sea of cares
That burst forth from his eyelids unrestrained.

4. How I wished that he had parted from humiliation
And that you were pleased that he passed the night blaming others.

5. Reprove him justly for qualities of yours
That I see made bare by the hands of events.

6. Grant me safety from inheriting his farewells
Though after nights, nights again should divide.

7. Do you fear that if we meet I may jest?
Or fear that if we part I may grieve?

8. Give me the camel's rein after her;
You erred not save that my fidelity was surety.

9. With fidelity you left men of passion,
And with treachery you left passionate men.

10. And be not deceived by tears; some tears
Are mirage, and my belief in them went not straight.

11. But these cheeks refused to show
Aught but my condition, however times be inert.

12. I wondered, when my reason went astray and my sight
Strayed toward them, and to lookers they glistened.

13. You said, "Would you cast away your soul?" I said, "For an aim."
And cast the stone at those who throw stones loftily.

14. Perhaps distance may cure me. Then she recited:
"Enough that you see death as your physician."

15. She said "Farewell" and went her way. I replied:
God has favors that grant all wishes.

16. I wept but sensed no comfort for tears.
Yes, none is cured who thinks you will not meet.

17. I, above dust and beneath it,
Will keep a pact like my love for you enduring,

18. And though my love may not last, it is
Like your pact, Time has not gloated at its fading.

19. Through you we wore the night until our hair whitened
As we put it off, our temples turned hoary.

20. I pleased in my love for you those angered by greatness.
Would that he were pleased with me!

21. I watered my cheek with tears, and sometimes
I grew angry and watered the heights and the lofty places.

22. In you a barren spot called me and I answered it,
So my reply shied from being an answer.

23. In my heart I concealed a secret love for you
That will remain though you destroy my heart.

24. A counselor blamed you to appease his anger
As if he were the loyal, untainted friend.

25. By God, I would not have made a tattler an arbiter,
Even if the love were a tattler in it.

26. One busied with a heart that your cares filled
So it had no care though empty.

27. Help me at your trysting-place with the water of union.
It is a refuge that was hot from the burning wind.

28. And I watered there the fire of love, and sometimes
The flames caught that which did not burn.

29. For her sake I weep eyes that watch
And eyes that I fear, eyes that attack.

30. For a fire I praise ribs that blaze
And suffer burning and heal tears that scald.

31. I set out to you, but do not name you, a journey
And begin it though you are visible to people.

32. Others are named according to their worth,
But your worth made names more lofty.

33. When Solomon's desire summoned me,
I rode the wind, seeking the plains.

34. You see it when the sea churns with waves
Scorpions lurking underneath drink from it.

35. I reckon the character of nights, what they conceal
Of their mysteries, are not counted as nights.

36. Had they not been like nights, they would not
Stir sorrows or attain wishes.

37. Strange are they, neighboring nights
That roamed and stared at the stars blankly,

38. Rose with the bow from them, crescent shaped,
And were of their colors colors rich.

39. They flutter with a burden and blackened thoughts
And he travels! So steer them, you voyagers of cares!

40. On wings we fluttered at dawn, their wing,
And sped, arrows like arrows in meadows.

41. We listen in our hearts to them attentively
So the fish of the deep spend the night conversing.

42. At evening we gave the winds their reins
And I gave the epochs of time my reins.

43. We race winds and they race us
And we stand firm, light swift steeds.

44. Of the water's expanse we built from them fortresses,
Nor did we tie up except when we dropped anchor.

45. I launched galleys above the wind from them
And held back galleys beneath the sea from them.

46. Thoroughbreds galloped to God on legs
And thoroughbreds rose to Him, towering.

47. What crow but them will bring the tribe together again
And the stranger hopes through them for approach?

48. Woe to me, if I obey the rage of my soul,
Woe to me, if it craves nothing but the heights!

49. I must not crane my heart forward by day
Nor crane my eye backward by night.

50. When my wish's ally conversed with Him,
Then far-fetched that time should pass conversing!

51. The first condition that I obliged after longing
Is that my praise is given to none but you.

52. I alighted through you to a vast courtyard
And so brimmed with thanks to you for time's plenty.

53. I see all remembrance but yours perishing.
Apart from the heights, nothing is inexhaustible to repay!

54. It runs freely even by the sword if hidden
And flows even by water if passing the night stagnant.

55. When an outburst of anger from Him is enough, God spare its evil!
It overflows the days and they return nights.

56. It is shown by the bats eating its light
And stars revert to the wastes with their whiteness.

57. The homes of kings lay in rubble
So you came on their heels and rhymed their ends.

58. You mastered, leaving no resisting foe,
You charged, leaving no attacking foe.

59. And you bared between time and us
Swords in the hands of foes, returning foes.

60. And you sharpened swords on the world, Indian swords
That marry the necks of foes, weeping.

61. You unleashed havoc toward the fighter, a guide,
And glory stood between hopes, crying aloud.

62. So the Merciful made your rule endure; they are
Places where lifetimes spend the night at meadows.