1. Dwellings in the land of misfortune I draw
Upon them the tears of lovers flow

2. Oh would that I knew, will a visitor come
With greetings, and be answered benignly?

3. Their songs gave refuge to every fearful soul
Seeking shelter in times of distress, safely.

4. Have the noble of Ahmed’s clan now bent
That the lowly among them rule?

5. An Umayyad gang has seized them
Marching them like those gone before.

6. Encompassing them, hands of fate scattered
And what they owned is spoils divided

7. To which house after my patron’s house
Do the feet of guests walk and trace?

8. They made them into arrows and waited
For their consequences, as arrows have no guide.

9. Yet it is but the Kaaba of generosity and dew
Though pilgrims, kinder than you.

10. Is it just that you destroy sublimity and heights
While vulgar remain its people, as it falls?

11. How many burdens of sins from you they bore
Yet their wealth you made plunder?

12. If you destroy the house of hospitality and virtue
Then praise’s building cannot be ruined.

13. The ribs of its patrons, it they sigh
Are pillars shaken by their groan.

14. Foxes have wreaked havoc on their thicket
Can the ploy of foxes be avoided?

15. You have plundered tents of Hussein, which
Remind us how the encampment was ravaged.

16. Bowls before which nobles bowed
Now surround piles of trash fused.

17. And furnishings of splendor and joy
Too grand to tally, so majestic.

18. You ruled but did not remain, such is the way
Of villains, they do not keep if empowered.

19. Pillars collapse and foundations sway
At the hands of enemies that batter.

20. O haven of delegates, how the clouds cleared
From a flash of lightning that made men smile!

21. Gathering’s abundance in you was scattered
Though glory’s assembly was organized.

22. For poets spread your generosity
Many a fair season of generosity hosted.

23. Radiant faces and generous hands
My seas therein and stars!.

24. Those seas never ebbed nor stars dimmed
Lighting speeches, though speeches darkened.

25. O Abu Ahmed patience for each misfortune
You are exemplar in the war of misfortunes.

26. You are but the sword - so polish it
Briefly, no shame if it rusts from blood.

27. This is but a cloud soon to clear
And the unjust will meet their recompense and regret.