أَصبَحتُ بِالبَصرَةِ ذا غُربَة

أَصبَحتُ بِالبَصرَةِ ذا غُربَة

أُدفَعُ مِن هَمٍّ إِلى كُربَة

أُدفَعُ مِن هَمٍّ إِلى كُربَة

I have found myself in Basra, a stranger,

I have become a stranger in Basra.

driven from care into anguish.

I am driven from sorrow into anguish.

أَطلُبُ عُتبى مِن حَبيبٍ نَأى

أَطلُبُ عُتبى مِن حَبيبٍ نَأى

وَلَيسَ لي عُتبى وَلا عُتبَة

وَلَيسَ لي عُتبى وَلا عُتبَة

I seek restored favor from a beloved gone far,

I seek reconciliation from a beloved who has gone far away.

but I have neither favor nor ‘Utba.

And I have neither reconciliation nor Utbah.