1. When that face appears and his lips smile,

    then I have no excuse for delaying love of him.

  2. A handsome one: when you behold the suppleness of his figure,

    you understand what makes the tawny spears kill.

  3. Indeed, by love! Were it not for the languor I saw

    in his eyes, I would not be certain they were magic.

  4. And were it not for my stupor when kissing his lips,

    I would not be sure that his saliva was wine.

  5. I delighted in him for an age, despite my enviers,

    with a joy of living that thought cannot describe.

  6. How often, in chastity, I fasted from my life's pleasures,

    though how often I broke my fast on his saliva!

  7. How often he cleaved the fangs of darkness and visited me,

    and every night he visited me was a moon.

  8. How often that bough leaned toward me and bent,

    and when he bends, I cannot bear to be apart from him.

  9. How often I had his company as he slept beside me, with my forearm

    his pillow, and breast and throat bearing witness.

  10. How many a pleasure you have gained from him openly!

    No good lies in pleasures with a veil standing before them.

  11. He turns away coyly, then inclines toward me tenderly;

    he grows angry in pride, then is pleased and smiles.

  12. Ah, how often I delighted my forearm with his neck,

    and no sin deterred me, nor any guilt restrained me.

  13. I told my asceticism, 'Depart!' and right judgment, 'Do not stay!'

    For love's decree is binding, and its dominion compels.

  14. We spent the night as passion wished, in a state

    that made al-Jawza jealous and the full moon envious.

  15. There was nothing suspect between us—God forgive me—

    though many a questionable deed is nothing but reward!

  16. I contend with him until, from shyness, he nearly—

    ...[unclear wording]—and embers blaze from that cheek.

  17. I deny my passion, then complain of his turning away;

    the complaint embarrasses him, while the thought makes him laugh.

  18. May God preserve those nights, for they hold so many

    favors for me that no thanks can repay.

  19. Nights when I gave passion my reins,

    and retained no power to forbid or command.

  20. I surrendered my heart to yearning and lovesickness,

    and reproach did not frighten me, nor rebuke restrain me.

  21. The nights pass with my beloved keeping me company,

    and I did not know whether the year had died or the month had ended.

  22. Why should I not yearn for night with all my yearning,

    when that night, in its bliss, is entirely dawn?

  23. Nights have passed; were it not for Abu Umar, I would not

    have wished my lifetime to extend beyond them.

  24. A valiant man, with resolve for every dark calamity,

    which, through his noble forebears, is followed by victory.

  25. Turn to him, you who fear the vagaries of your age;

    for his courtyard is safety, and his palm a sea.

  26. Ask the rainclouds' water or the east wind's breeze about him,

    for both have news of the sweetness of his character.

  27. For a petitioner, his face offers a look of favor,

    his speech good tidings, and his gaze good cheer.

  28. Easy, you who seek to enumerate his qualities:

    the virtues of the Household have no limit.

  29. Virtues which, if smelled, would by their fragrance suffice

    in place of musk; or if fashioned, pearls would be unknown.

  30. Those are a people whose glory cannot be matched

    by any glory, nor can any rank rise above theirs.

  31. Suppose I went to the utmost of my powers in praise:

    what is my praise worth, after the Qur'an has praised them?

  32. Abu Umar, sufficient for your honor and lordship

    and exalted rank is your pure, immaculate ancestor.

  33. I marvel at people who gaze toward eminence,

    when eminence is a virgin whose chamber is your house.

  34. How often they tried to catch up with you, while between them

    and you, Abdullah, lies a difficulty, as I see it.

  35. I would ransom you—a man of majesty, yet humble,

    sweet to his friends, bitter to his enemies.

  36. In you, Abdullah, time has been generous, though so often

    time, Abdullah, has been stingy with the likes of you.

  37. Never will time find, after you, a lord

    whose honor has the bright stars beneath it.

  38. You restored to the people of this age the splendor of their days

    with a wedding that has a secret in every person's heart.

  39. With my soul I would ransom that wedding—how much it held

    of joy, and how many a person found solace through it!

  40. The rainstorms of heaven avoided it in awe,

    and but for the dew of your palms, rain would have speckled it.

  41. With it you filled every heart with gladness,

    and through it Egypt vaunted herself above all lands.

  42. Through it you won glory, pride, and lordship,

    so I recorded its date for the illustrious lord, pride itself.

  43. May I ever remain in unassailable honor, gladdened

    by your son; may neither ill nor harm befall you.

  44. May you always remain my treasure, noble one, and my refuge,

    and enough for me in this world is that you are my treasure.

  45. Upon your ancestor, the guiding bearer of glad tidings, be a greeting

    befitting him, as long as turtledoves sing upon the hills.

Sol 6.1