Sol 6.1

  1. The garden's mouths laughed when the dew wept.

    And the doves began singing upon the bough.

  2. And the wind plays with the boughs, as though it were

    A mellow voice from a singer who has sung.

  3. Where the anemone's petals are lined with kohl,

    And it appears, flaunting the beauty of a black beauty spot.

  4. Where the boughs swayed in a robe

    Of green, like emerald in splendor.

  5. Where the roses' buds opened,

    And polished a heart that had cloaked itself in rust.

  6. Where the daisies appeared on a peridot stem,

    Like a goblet that beauty fashioned from gold.

  7. Where the blossoms' fragrances grew rich,

    And their petals were adorned with pearls of dew.

  8. Where the gardens were embellished by their spring,

    And adorned with flowers' jewels, worn as necklaces.

  9. Where the cloud weds the east wind,

    And so the rain is born of them both.

  10. Where lightning's swords flashed,

    And thunder chants, urging the clouds onward.

  11. Where the nights grew moonlit as they darkened,

    And were lit by their dawn when it appeared.

  12. Where the stars danced in their sky,

    And dawn drew an Indian-steel sword against the darkness.

  13. Where the cups beckon from a slender youth's hand,

    Sweet in his ways, unrivaled in beauty.

  14. A fawn whose feeble glance drew strength from him,

    And struck with an arrow that led to death.

  15. A gazelle whose gaze feigned sobriety when he grew tipsy,

    Feigning drowsiness, he served the wine, riotously drunk.

  16. His swaying form put the garden's bough to shame,

    And his cheeks shamed its roses when they flushed.

  17. In him beauty soared, and his perfection grew exalted,

    And through him the pillar of splendor was erected.

  18. For his musky cheek-down wafts ambergris,

    And his brow is like a star by which one is guided.

  19. And from his cheeks beauty shone forth,

    And from his glances comes the keen sword, unsheathed.

  20. And his honeyed saliva made a sober man drunk,

    And grew sweet in the cup of his mouth as it cooled.

  21. And his swaying figure pierces the breast,

    Like a spear grown accustomed to thrusting.

  22. His cheeks are my heart's mirror in love;

    They are its embers, appearing there ablaze.

  23. I fancied the conjunction waw his temple's scorpion-curl,

    Just as his cheek-down is fancied the introductory lam.

  24. From his saliva and his lips, I surely

    Am slaked with sweet water from carnelian, bearing witness.

  25. And he possesses a body whose beauties delight,

    He took grace for a robe and clothed himself in it.

  26. How wondrous the beauty spot upon his cheeks!

    It made the kings among mankind slaves,

  27. Except the imam who ascends to al-Suha's zenith,

    I mean the noble, keen-witted, peerless man.

  28. The champion of men of merit since his youth,

    Erasing all mention of miserliness through his bounty.

  29. A lion of the lair whom the lions of al-Shara fear,

    And taken for an army when he walks alone.

  30. A moon whose light erased the night of hardships,

    And guided along the paths of right conduct, leading aright.

  31. A full moon who took high honors for his dwelling,

    And indeed gained a seat above the Milky Way.

  32. And soared in eminence above the crowns of al-Simak,

    And how often he rose above heaven's Eagle (Nasr) and Farqad!

  33. And he came when the pillar of glory lay demolished,

    So he raised it, lofty in structure, and built it firm.

  34. And his presence clothed the neck of time

    With a necklace of glories and beauty, strung in order.

  35. And through him time's murk cleared away from mankind,

    And through him the life of high honors grew more prosperous.

  36. And at his appearance was kohled and brightened

    The eye of time, which had been gazing sore-eyed.

  37. Whenever a seeker of bounty comes and makes for his abode,

    He gives him enough to last to the very end.

  38. And bestows joys upon him after a cheerful welcome,

    And clothes him in gold from the robes of his gifts.

  39. For he is the one who made us forget Hatim,

    Through the bounty of a nature accustomed to generosity.

  40. So restrain anyone who rivals him in attaining high rank,

    With severity, for his equal will never be found.

  41. He alone has traversed the racecourse of eloquence,

    And walked the paths of eloquent diction alone.

  42. If Sahban came to him displaying his verse,

    You would see his smooth verse tangled.

  43. How splendid his noble presence—what a master!

    Who raised lofty honors with glory and built them firm.

  44. So take pride in your Lord, O imam, above mankind,

    With pride, unattainable glory, and lordship.

  45. And look upon the Asiya of verse, for she has come

    To kiss the noble palm and the hand.

  46. And graciously smile upon her with joyful lips,

    And line the eye of acceptance for her with kohl.

  47. And avert your glances from the small flaw in her verse,

    And mend her grievous fracture, setting it right.

  48. And be safe, and abide in glory as long as the east wind blows,

    Or as long as birds sing and warble among the boughs,

  49. Or as long as Ibn Fath Allah recites, chanting:

    The garden's mouths laughed when the dew wept.

Sol 6.1