1. The mill of war turned quickly in the world
People tasted the bitterness of orphanhood and bereavement

2. There was no place on earth left unscathed
The West brought it all the way to the East, nothing was spared

3. Its horror made people busy themselves with it
And in Iraq it raged and flared up

4. And Iraq was laden with woe and war
And Anwer was the cause of igniting it

5. For he deviated from the path of guidance and refused
Except pursuing desire, sin, and wrongdoing

6. He found no advice or deterrent of use and paid no heed
To threats or cared for protecting reputations

7. And the Germans were intent upon waging war
So he plunged his state into its fire severed

8. The ties of friendship with the greatest of states
Britain the mighty, evilly betrayed and spurned

9. And persisted in provocation until he angered the lion
Who became enraged and the air shook with his roaring

10. The earth quaked and trembled in awe
The army of the Queen of the Seas marched on Iraq

11. And occupied Basra and took Al Qurna
At the meeting of the two rivers it swept through

12. The Ottoman troops retreated before it
It advanced over plain and hill

13. Along the Euphrates its march continued
Until Al Nasiriya surrendered to its demand

14. And on the Tigris it stretched out its hand
In Amara it began and from that moment

15. It was known as the hero
General Nixon attacked headlong

16. And marched northward venturing and conquering
Townshend asked him, "We have been told before

17. Recklessness, even if successful, is not praiseworthy"
Shall I contradict this saying by my actions?"

18. Nixon replied, "Disregard this warning
That makes you shy from attaining glory

19. One cannot achieve greatness without risk
Be determined, attack, win, fight - you will attain"

20. Townshend obeyed the order though the general
Urged him on beyond his own intentions

21. He crossed the Tigris until he tamed its torrents
And was vigorous in conquest and defeat

22. Spending the night where he set an example
After this rapid advance, he did not hesitate

23. Until he subdued Kut Al Amara and bent it
Both gained him wide renown

24. And were thereafter linked to the memory of his conquest
Filling ears, mouths, and pens

25. His army had suffered and did not increase
And his efforts to compensate this loss were fruitless

26. When he saw he needed reinforcements
And was short of completing his desired numbers

27. And unable to remedy this deficiency
Yet despite all this he was active

28. In continuing to defeat however disheartened
He descended on Ctesiphon like fate itself

29. Conquered it and took its outskirts and center
Capturing its troops like tame camels

30. At Ctesiphon, intent on advancing to Baghdad
He was attacked by Nureddin who assaulted

31. Forcing him to retreat, withdrawing
To fight defensively using ruses

32. But Nureddin's troops were merciless in their advance
Rushing recklessly onward, outpacing

33. And storming Townshend overflowing
On his flanks like pouring rain

34. Townshend knew the state of his troops
And had no worry or secret warning

35. So found no alternative but to retreat
Turning back, protecting his rear

36. Defending without fear or hesitation
Kut Al Amara forced him to stop

37. With Nureddin attacking from the South
Surrounding Kut from every side

38. With encirclement by land and air
Townshend's army was thus isolated

39. And it was hard for it to break the siege
It awaited aid but none arrived

40. And its supporters' efforts to save it failed
Only resulting in failure

41. When he saw the attempt to resupply him had failed
And sources of provisions were exhausted

42. He surrendered under compulsion as demanded
By Khalil Pasha and emptied Kut and turned back

43. With his army contained in a prison camp