1. Longing moves me to al-Hadbaa'
Every morn and eve my yearning grows

2. I pine for those abodes like one athirst
Who to fresh water yearns and longing knows

3. A home alit by al-Ameen and his son
Most generous, most faithful folk arose

4. O heart, what three made their abode therein?
Are they mountains of knowledge or stars that glows?

5. Or clouds whose rains the thirsting earth relieve?
God bless those clouds when they o'erflow!

6. Or are they seas whose waters are most pure
That through the verdant Mosul gently flows?

7. Or gardens whose flowers are abloom, that grace
The hall, enhancing its beauty as it grows

8. Their hearts o'erflow with light of piety
And beams of knowledge, brightly gleaming shows

9. They are lions, though night their grandeur hides
Scions of Haydar and Zahra's heroic brows

10. They led in eloquence, masters of speech
Not of poets, though with deepest verse it flows

11. They donned the pearls of composition, though
No poets they, nor yet among poets shows

12. In clear constellations their mansions shone
Illuming the dark night with radiance it throws

13. A marvel that while my body lingers here
My heart by their dwellings finds its repose

14. My tears for them abundant pearls have shed
That on my cheeks like glistening beads now shows

15. The wine of their land came to me from afar
I drank until intoxicated, cure of my woes

16. Their gifts circled my neck binding me to them
I am to their loyalty now captive who knows

17. Who will grant me strength for all they've given me
High reward for generosity that o'erflows?

18. Whene'er I read it enlightens my eyes
Bringing solace and healing, banishing woes

19. My joy 'mongst the people, wish of my soul
My comfort in comfort and in suffering shows

20. I kissed it and placed it atop my brow
Protection 'gainst enemies, barrier it throws

21. Perfume like the Zawra's breeze it exudes
Life to the living its vitality bestows

22. Dear Saar brought tidings of joy with his gift
Waking the dead with his magic, cure he now shows

23. Relating your traces in its folds, the air
With its fragrance is perfumed, where'er it blows

24. Taras described the aroma's diffusion
As generously as clouds their rain bestows

25. At his words, longing stirred deep in my soul
To health restoring those cures he gently shows

26. I bid Saar hasten to their dunes, though hot
Too hot for horses there, even cures he knows

27. Go circling Rammah's turns when time allows
Converging skillfully where the hall shows

28. Take the middle third of Nuqa's wares
Two thirds rough, uneven, no beauty it shows

29. When you enter their dwellings, courteous be
Balanced and just, not haughty pride it shows

30. With warm greetings sent by one who yearns
Far, somber, weeping, send it where love flows

31. Whene'er I recall them, sighs rise within
Like breaths drawn by one death's agony knows

32. Nay, barely the thought of them and tears pour down
My cheeks, with blood commingling as grief grows

33. O dwellers of Hadbaa, will you return?
Reviving me, o dwellers of Hadbaa?

34. Though you've left, our bond remains unbroken
My old love for you time cannot erode

35. If rain is scarce in your lands, my tears here
Will water your plains as plentifully they flowed

36. Who will quench for me the fires of my youth?
Favor me with reunion my longing to goad?

37. Alas! How can one who suffers absence's pangs
Hope for nearness? One day roasts, another loads!

38. By your splendid glory - and truly it is
An oath - for you my soul ardently slowed

39. I'll not turn from loving you, for loving you
Is my creed, allegiance that tightly is sewed

40. Patience, to you I incline, for worry and love
Have wearied me, solace and help erode

41. Would one who suffers seek rest for a heart
That tastes nothing but bitterness grief has showed?

42. Gentle counselor, I am not the first
To lower his gaze, leave me, let my tears flowed

43. A composer came unveiling those tents
And their dwellers, but to meet Spring he forbode

44. Your love raised me to glorious ancestry
When calamity strikes, my defenders they showed

45. In their excellence I rise, though tired my hand
As I cling to the Pillar, fatigued though I slowed

46. Shall I turn from the servant of God whose dust
Is my gold, whose gardens my spirit have goaded?

47. Whose place is my refuge, perfection my goal
My meadow, my shade when fierce heat overloaded?

48. Whose praise is sweet nectar, remembrance the wine
That revives me, whose soil is the wealth I have hoarded?

49. Whose banner's my fortress, loyalty my armor
On his shore I find purity, ne'er corroded

50. Trust is the alif, all eloquence the baa
Taa, communication, thaa, every praise lauded

51. Jeem, the beauty, haa the wisdom supreme
Khaa, prosperity, khaa, every gift loaded

52. Daal, humility, dhaal, brilliant mind
Raa, leadership, and zaa, best reward coded

53. Seen, distinction, sheen, prevalent wisdom
Saad, purity, daad, all brilliance exploded

54. Taa, pleasantness, zaa, fruitful shade
Ayn, care, ghayn, every melody loaded

55. Faa, success, qaaf, nearness has risen high
Kaaf, self-sufficiency, laam, loyalty crowded

56. Meem, status, noor, penetrating light
Waw, loyalty, haa, every guidance goaded

57. Yaa, discretion, leadership, life
And providence, certainty, generosity loaded

58. May God protect his side and yours too
And send abundant rain when supplicated

59. To you and to him the heaviest showers
In welcome fields and places dedicated

60. Watering days of joy when together we drank
In gatherings where passion fermented and brewed

61. As though they and it never were
Just a dream that passed as in slumber I snoozed

62. Will you return one morn as dawn breaks
The abode perfumed as the watchmen are eluded?

63. Shall I walk atop the desert laughing
Timid yet bold, in garments of shyness secluded?

64. Bestower of days, how you've favored many a lad
Only to later deprive him of gifts he had wooed!

65. Will happiness return to us soon, I implore
One day, then allow me to remain by your side?

66. O Joy, hope is not lost, nor the thread of my wishes
Cut off, but knotted still, tightly to hope I have glued

67. I remain as I am, destiny before me
Yearning ahead, fate behind wherever I'm stewed