1. Wherever the flags of eyes can see her
Make way for the necks of mounts to show her

2. And do not rush her from alighting an hour
For parting and travel have reddened her cheeks

3. And O you who lead her on from Zawi bin Malik
Let her stop to drink the water of al-Waqib

4. And do not pull her to the hills, be gentle with her
For pulling to the hills and tugging tires her

5. She was not created with a nature for racing
Nor from the breed of frisky colts racing

6. Do not deny her whimpering and yearning
For every love, she sighs and pines over

7. I see you two heedless of the fatigue of travel
The fatigue that dims the eyes with kohl

8. Perhaps stopping and lying down somewhere
Would soothe the eyes of the ardent lover

9. Stay and linger near the abodes and remind
Of our nights in the palace and recall them to her

10. For how many a night we spent there that if sold
One would pay half a lifetime's price to buy it

11. My heart blames my two friends for infatuation
If they knew what was beyond they'd excuse her

12. She has carried a sea, a full moon and a meadow
Not all of that can match her burial mound

13. Do not blame her, she is the best company
For a soul when cares of life have stripped it bare

14. The sorrowful man plays with her when
City merchants are selling and buying her

15. Do not look at her, but look to the pregnant clouds
Waiting after this year, so wait for her

16. She will come with what makes jealous ears joyful
And makes traits of men forgettable

17. If Sa'dan has denied her his meadows
Saying: I'm pleased with tasting it from afar

18. While the barking of dogs disturbs her rest
Their howling causes harm to befall her

19. In shining Basra are waters and meadows
Beloved to it are its plants and seeds

20. And a lion from Banu 'Ees who is a true 'Ees
Sees her with loving eyes whenever he sees her

21. Happy to meet her caravan at his abode
That were she his drink he would melt to drink her

22. They are ambitions who in every quarter have a hand
Evident in my misery and bounty its effect on her

23. A noble one who sees life as vanity and nonsense
The least thing to him is depriving her

24. Iraq acknowledges he's the best of its people
The sea of his gifts and lion in buying them

25. The protector of those seeking refuge with him
The liberator of captives and shelter for victims

26. The full moon of its glories and sun of its pride
The lamp of its gatherings and star of its secrets

27. The neighing of the steeds of lofty kings
The jewel in the crown of power of its princes

28. When serving money sells its luck
Investing in lasting good deeds he buys it

29. And if an easy life is gifted one morning
There are cavils like auctioneer's bids after it

30. Ask the formidable landscape and it will tell you
After trying, it knows her well and has tested her

31. Did it not rid the land of rebels with the sword?
They had unjustly inhabited and settled it

32. Seeking to deviate the caliphate astray
What a sight opposing what they envisioned!

33. Has the barking of dogs or howling of apes
Ever harmed the sun when it rose radiant?

34. He rid them from a prosperous land with the sword
Had it no sheath, they'd not have flourished in it

35. To Hijr he led the steeds in migration
Without their choice, he made them emigrate

36. I swear had he not disdained and scorned them
He'd not have attended to or transacted with them

37. Beforehand, how much favor he'd shown
Gifts that gratitude falls short however thanked

38. By my life, if the enemy is audacious for an hour
His vileness is exposed and poetry was struck dumb

39. His swords poured out their blood
And till judgment day his nakedness was exposed

40. Indeed the caliph stripped him of his blade
If only heads were firm, he'd have lopped them

41. I sleep in the desert lands secure and awaken
To me her ruins and villages are equal

42. She travels to Ahvaz from Babylon's land
With only his swords as her brave guards

43. She spends the night in the open, under the stars
As the son of Ghoura's eyes keep watch over her

44. How often has she stripped the necks of her coats
At dawn, to face the cold without their cover!

45. By my life, she revived for Muhammad's nation
Justice he enjoined on Omar to look after

46. May she never lack it, as long as her stars shine
And her full moons journey in their mansions

47. Nor may her enemies and time see in her
A weak and abased eye that they may look down on